Butler County will be conducting its first-ever old-medicine collection from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Butler Township Municipal Building at the intersection of Whitestown and South Duffy roads. The collection will serve a worthy purpose, allowing for proper disposal of out-of-date, no-longer-needed pills and liquid medications.

While the goal behind the collection is solid, there might be some misunderstanding about one requirement — a misunderstanding that, if not resolved, could be a turnoff for some people who might otherwise have wanted to properly get rid of such unwanted items.

It is the requirement that people register for the drop-off prior to the collection. People have been asked to call the county Recycling and Waste Management office at 724-284-5305.

Based on an explanation given Wednesday by Sheryl Kelly, coordinator of county recycling and waste management, people should not worry about the registration feature of the initial announcement. According to Kelly, the collection will be confidential, and people have no reason to be concerned.

Even though callers will be asked for their names to approximate the number of people who intend to drop off items, those who don't wish to provide their names won't be turned away.

Kelly said her office was asking that people, prior to coming to the collection, black out the name of the person for whom the medicine was prescribed — and that there would be markers available for people who arrive without having done so.

However, she said, collection participants were being asked not to black out the medicine name and dosage, as a means for aiding in the proper disposal of the items.

To most people, health issues are private matters — information about which they are reluctant to share with anyone except, perhaps, family members and a few friends, in addition to their medical professionals.

Federal guidelines protect their right to privacy in their contacts with doctors and hospitals and in other medical settings.

A requirement that they reveal their identity if they want to properly dispose of old medicines seems contrary to that privacy right.

Fortunately, privacy need not be a concern, based on Kelly's explanation. Thus, people should not hesitate to register and then drop off their no-longer-needed or expired prescription and over-the-counter medicines, pet medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements and inhalers.

The collection will not be for needles, lancets, thermometers or other medical devices.

The thinking behind this collection is sound from both a storage and environmental perspective. Getting rid of such items frees up space in people's homes and makes them safer, and the proper disposal following collection will alleviate concerns about the environment.

One national study showed traces of medication in drinking water, stemming from improper medication disposal.

Butler County should consider holding one of these drop-offs every year, and other counties should do so as well.