[Pharmwaste] Re: Pharmwaste digest, Vol 1 #39 - 1 msg

Tue, 12 Apr 2005 10:19:21 -0400

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Dear Annie: How does one dispose of unused medication? I am a member of
a non-advocacy group interested in the protection and improvement of our
watershed and creek. One of our members said if we are asking people not
to put anything non-biodegradable down drains, why are we instructing
people to discard old prescriptions and other outdated medicines in the
toilet? 

Our sewage treatment facilities are not designed to filter out
pharmaceuticals, and those of us using septic tanks and cesspools are
introducing this toxic waste directly into the water table, where we and
our neighbors are pumping it up and drinking it. Untreated. 

Studies have shown large trace amounts of pharmaceuticals in our
surface water, as well as in fish. How can we safely discard these used
prescriptions in a more environmentally friendly way? Can they be
returned to the drugstore for recycling? Please help. -- Dan Troge,
Conservation Advisory Council and the Fishkill Creek Watershed
Committee, N.Y. 

Dear Dan Troge: We thought your question was interesting, and found it
a little frightening that we may be getting anti-depressants and hormone
therapy through our water. We spoke to Phillippa Cannon at the EPA, who
told us there are no federal rules for disposing of unused or old
medication. The EPA does NOT recommend flushing them. It says to take
such medication to Household Hazardous Waste Events. (You can contact
your state environmental agency to find out when and where.) You also
can call 1-800-CLEANUP (1-800-253-2687) (www.1800cleanup.org) for
information. 

We also suggest checking your local pharmacy. Walgreens will accept the
return of many prescription drugs. CVS Pharmacy recently worked with the
EPA on a pilot program in Maine, at which folks returned unused or old
prescription drugs for disposal. Many pharmacies in Canada have
recycling programs, and Health Canada is hoping to develop a national
education campaign on the proper disposal for products regulated under
the Food and Drug Act. 

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face=3DArial size=3D2>Dear Annie: How does one dispose of unused medication=
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member of a non-advocacy group interested in the protection and improvement=
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our watershed and creek. One of our members said if we are asking people =
not to=20
put anything non-biodegradable down drains, why are we instructing people =
to=20
discard old prescriptions and other outdated medicines in the toilet?=20
<BR><BR>Our sewage treatment facilities are not designed to filter out=20
pharmaceuticals, and those of us using septic tanks and cesspools are=20
introducing this toxic waste directly into the water table, where we and =
our=20
neighbors are pumping it up and drinking it. Untreated. <BR><BR>Studies =
have=20
shown large trace amounts of pharmaceuticals in our surface water, as well =
as in=20
fish. How can we safely discard these used prescriptions in a more=20
environmentally friendly way? Can they be returned to the drugstore for=20
recycling? Please help. -- Dan Troge, Conservation Advisory Council and =
the=20
Fishkill Creek Watershed Committee, N.Y. <BR><BR>Dear Dan Troge: We =
thought your=20
question was interesting, and found it a little frightening that we may =
be=20
getting anti-depressants and hormone therapy through our water. We spoke =
to=20
Phillippa Cannon at the EPA, who told us there are no federal rules for=20
disposing of unused or old medication. The EPA does NOT recommend flushing =
them.=20
It says to take such medication to Household Hazardous Waste Events. (You =
can=20
contact your state environmental agency to find out when and where.) You =
also=20
can call 1-800-CLEANUP (1-800-253-2687) (www.1800cleanup.org) for =
information.=20
<BR><BR>We also suggest checking your local pharmacy. Walgreens will =
accept the=20
return of many prescription drugs. CVS Pharmacy recently worked with the =
EPA on=20
a pilot program in Maine, at which folks returned unused or old prescriptio=
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and=20
Health Canada is hoping to develop a national education campaign on the =
proper=20
disposal for products regulated under the Food and Drug Act.=20
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