Hawaii  residents have turned in more than half a ton of prescription drugs in response to program encouraging people to hand in unused, unneeded or expired medications.

The state Attorney General’s office says having unused and expired medicine at home increases the risk of accidental poisoning and prescription drug abuse.

Proper disposal also ensures the drugs won’t enter the human water supply or potentially harm aquatic life.

The service is free and anonymous. The collected drugs are incinerated according to federal and state environmental guidelines.

The state Attorney General’s office said in a statement Wednesday that the program has collected 1,052 pounds of drugs since Sept. 25.