This is a great idea. I recently read in Wired about 2 scientist who have developed the technology to analyze waste water in treatment plants and are able to determine not only the legal drug use in a community, but also recreational drugs too. Gotta start changin' our habits and cleaning up the mess our "way of life" has created. Tony Del Plato
On 10/1/08, George Frantz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > FYI from southern Pennsylvania. Hopefully the beginning of a nation-wide > trend: > > > HARRISBURG (PA) PATRIOT NEWS > > CUMBERLAND COUNTY > Drop off unwanted meds, don't flush them > Tuesday, September 30, 2008 > BY MATT MILLER > Of Our Cumberland County Bureau > Cumberland County officials want to ensure that expired or unneeded > medications don't get flushed down the toilet and into the drinking water > supply. > Cumberland County's Recycling &Waste Authority will stage a > no-questions-asked prescription and over-the-counter medication collection > at three Giant stores on Saturday. > At the state's urging, and in partnership with Giant Food Stores, the > agency is launching the free pilot program. Everything collected will be > incinerated, said Tom Imphong, the county authority's director. > District Attorney David Freed is backing the venture. > "We know we have a problem with prescription medications in this county," > Freed said Thursday. "This will get them out of the hands of kids, out of > the hands of teenagers. > "In home burglaries, prescription drugs are among the things people are > looking for," he added. "This will get them out of people's homes so they > won't be a target for burglars." > The collection -- at the pharmacies in Giant stores in Camp Hill, Carlisle > and Shippensburg Twp. -- is prompted by the state Department of > Environmental Protection's concerns about rising levels of medications > turning up in water supplies, Imphong said. > "Any program to keep substances like this, which are not naturally > occurring, out of the environment is certainly welcome," DEP spokesman John > Repetz said. > Because some medications will be controlled substances, county sheriff's > deputies and local and state police will be present to provide security and > take possession of the prescription drugs, Imphong said. Giant's pharmacists > will help identify medications. > No one who brings in medication will be asked for identification or about > the source of the drugs, Imphong said. Labels identifying medications should > be left on the containers, but personal information should be crossed out. > Syringes, bandages, thermometers and other medically related items won't be > accepted. > Imphong estimated the event will cost the county about $8,000, with half to > be reimbursed by DEP. > "If it's successful, we hope it would continue," he said. > MATT MILLER: 249-2006 or [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > _______________________________________________ > For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, > please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ > > RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: > [email protected] > http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins > free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org > -- Hatred does not cease through hatred at any time. Hatred ceases through love. This is an unalterable law. - Buddha _______________________________________________ For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: [email protected] http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org
