I think it would make more sense, as well as be administratively simple, to make it possible to return unused and unwanted drugs to pharmacies for disposal, similar to the used oil program where retailers who sell the stuff have to take it back.
Joel At 01:37 PM 10/1/08 -0700, you 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 _______________________________________________ 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
