TUSCOLA – Douglas County residents can get rid of old or unsafe ammunition at an event this weekend at the Douglas County sheriff's office.

Operation Supervisor Lt. Clint Howard said the office will hold an old/unsafe ammo disposal event from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Feb. 18-20 at the sheriff's office, 920 S. Washington St., Tuscola.

Howard said all county residents are invited to turn in old or unsafe ammunition to the sheriff's office for disposal.

Howard said his office is accepting rifle rounds, pistol rounds, shotgun shells, shot shell primers, old black powder and reloading supplies.

"Explosive devices such as blasting caps or other ordinance will be accepted, but only with prior arrangements with the Douglas County sheriff's office," said Douglas County Chief Deputy Peter Buckley.

Any person who turns in ammunition will receive a free gun lock while supplies last.

Sheriff Charlie McGrew said the ammunition will be turned over to the University of Illinois Police Department's bomb disposal unit, which has equipment to dispose of it.

McGrew said this will be the first time the sheriff's office has offered an ammunition disposal event.

"This is something several citizens suggested to us, so we decided to give it a try and see if it is successful," McGrew said.

For more information on the program, call Howard at 253-2913.