Pasadena weekend: What to do June 20-22

Celebrate the summer solstice, take your e-waste and household hazardous waste to the Rose Bowl, garden with others, support the local food co-op.

Waste Roundup at the Rose Bowl. Saturday afternoon is your chance to get rid of the household hazardous waste and e-waste that's been sitting in your garage without having to drive far.

Summer Solstice Festival. On Saturday evening The Shed is hosting a Summer Solstice Festival. It promises "a celebration of all things local." Offerings include a movie screening, informative sessions on how to live a more sustainable life, music and food. Free for those under 21. For further details go to: http://www.lalomadevelopment.com/events/summer-solstice-festival .

The Arroyo Food Co-op's pre-order program is up and running. If you order online by Sunday midnight you can pick up your items at the store on the following Tuesday or Saturday. Pick-up is from 9-12 on Saturday. The AFC will be serving freshly brewed coffee for free.

Gardening. Transition Pasadena's Throop Learning Garden meets on Sunday.

Family Nature Walk. On Saturday morning, the Eaton Canyon Nature Center hosts a family nature walk. Bring small children, walking shoes, sunscreen, water and a hat.

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Unless otherwise noted, all events take place in Pasadena. For times, addresses and other details please see the calendar page of Pasastainable, CA or the event owner's webpage.

Got unused meds? Drop them off on Saturday

If you are like most people you have medication you no longer use sitting in a drawer or cabinet. Whether it's expired Advil or an antibiotic you didn't finish, these products are unsafe to keep in your home because they could end up in the wrong hands. On the other hand, you can't simply throw them in the trash or flush them down the toilet because they are hazardous waste with the potential to pollute our soil, groundwater and air.

What to do? For starters, next Saturday, April 26, is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pasadena residents can deliver unused, unwanted or expired medications in front of the Pasadena Police Department at 207 North Garfield Ave.

Your other option is to pick up a medication-return box or pouch from a store like Target and mail your unused medication to a company that will (hopefully) process it appropriately.

TakeAway, a return system for unused medications

Sharps Compliance in Texas offers a commercial return system called TakeAway. The company accepts all prescription and over-the counter drugs except for controlled substances. Unfortunately, its website provides little information on the fate of medication sent to them. The FAQs only say: "Once your package arrives at the treatment facility, we can scan and secure it, and then law enforcement supervises its processing."

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When: Saturday, April 26, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. (National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day)

Where: Pasadena Police Department at 207 North Garfield Ave

What: Drop off unused, unwanted or expired medication