A weekend collection of unused and expired prescription drugs well exceeded expectations, police said.

Saturday’s Department of Drug Enforcement sponsored drug take back in Naperville brought in about 250 pounds of prescription drugs, filling six large boxes to capacity.

“It exceeded our wildest expectations,” Naperville Police Cmdr. Greg Waitkus said of the first time Naperville participated in the national event, which safely disposes of unused medication.

He said many people don’t know medication cannot be thrown away by standard methods, and that pitching pills in the trash can sometimes get them into the wrong hands.

“They can find their way into the community,” he said, adding the success of this collection will make the department think about participating again.

“I think it’s a campaign like this that is slowly starting to help,” he said of spreading the word about disposing of old medications.