ENDICOTT, N.Y. -- Thousands of old prescription and over-the-counter pills and potions were handed over Saturday in Endicott's first ever used medicine collection.

The drive was organized by the village's Sewer Department.

The goal was to encourage people to turn in their medications rather than dumping them down the toilet or in the trash, both of which can have harmful effects.

"There have been recent studies that have found trace amounts of pharmaceuticals in rivers and streams, and even in some drinking water. So we want to get this out of the water stream and dispose of it in the right way," said Philip Grayson, the Endicott sewer pretreatment administrator.

Some of the medication dated as far back as the 1950s and 60s, including a vintage bottle of Cosanyl and a tin can full of Nyquil.

All of the medication was catalogued before being destroyed by an incinerator.