[Pharmwaste] A diversion program in the news

[McCarron, Matthew]

Today's new article, the web site are very good an clear.

Press-Enterprise Riverside, A 

 March 17, 2006 06:23 PM US Eastern Timezone 
Sanitation Districts and Partners Launch Medication Disposal Outreach
Program 
WHITTIER, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 17, 2006--The Sanitation
Districts of Los Angeles County have recently teamed up with the City of
Los Angeles, Orange County Sanitation District, California Pharmacists
Association, and California Poison Control System in a joint effort to
launch a new public education campaign to address disposal of household
medications. The campaign's tagline, "No Drugs Down the Drain" is meant
to encourage Southern California residents to dispose of their unused or
expired medications in ways more appropriate than flushing them down the
toilet. 


The launching of the outreach campaign will take place on March 19,
2006, during National Pollution Prevention Week and consists of an
informational Web site (www.nodrugsdownthedrain.org) and postcards to be
distributed directly to customers at local pharmacies. The postcards
contain instructions on how to dispose of unused or expired medications
and the Web site provides information for a more in-depth understanding
of the program and its importance. 

In the past, residents were advised to flush unwanted medications down
the toilet; however, wastewater treatment facilities are not designed to
remove or destroy all chemicals present in medications. Therefore,
medications present in wastewater can find their way into surface and
ground waters and may impact the environment. 

There are several alternatives when disposing of unwanted medications.
The highest recommended alternative is to take your unwanted
over-the-counter and prescription medications to a Household Hazardous
Waste Collection Center or event. Information on these can be found on
the Web at www.lacsd.org/hhw/hhwflier.htm or by calling our toll free
hotline at 800-238-0172. 

Another option is to put them into a sturdy and securely sealed
container and then in a trashcan where children and pets can't reach
them. Doing these simple things is just one of the many ways local
residents can help keep our water safe and our ocean clean. So please
take your medicine as prescribed, and remember to dispose of unused
portions properly. 

The Sanitation Districts provide environmentally sound, cost effective
wastewater and solid waste management for over half the population of
Los Angeles County. The Sanitation Districts are a confederation of
independent special districts serving about 5.1 million people. The
Sanitation Districts' service area encompasses 78 cities and
unincorporated territory within the County. The Sanitation Districts
construct, operate, and maintain facilities to collect, treat, recycle,
and dispose of sewage and industrial wastes. The Sanitation Districts
also provide for the management of solid wastes including disposal,
transfer operations, and materials recovery.

Contacts 
Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County
Don Avila, 562-699-7411, ext. 2304
or
California Poison Control System
Iana Simeonov, 415-502-8603 or 415-341-5035 (mobile)