[Pharmwaste] Yellow Jug Old Drugs® program expanding beyond Michigan to serve other Great Lakes states

[chris angel]

News Release attached 
Please feel free to share this information with others who might be interested

Chris Angel, President
Volunteer Board of Dir
Great Lakes Clean Water Org
989-736-8179

Yellow Jug Old Drugs® program expanding beyond Michigan to serve other Great Lakes states


	Coordinated by Great Lakes Clean Water Organization (GLCW), a Michigan based Non-Profit organization, the Yellow Jug Old Drugs®  program began in May 2009 in Northeast Michigan. Currently there are 215 participating pharmacies all across Michigan-more being added monthly. The program has been highly successful and is now expanding to provide the service to other Great Lakes states. 
     In the past when an individual wanted to dispose of unused/ unwanted/expired drugs the only option available in most communities was to flush these substances down the drain or send to a landfill. In the Great Lakes and across the country this has led to an emerging problem of trace amounts of chemicals showing up in our water.  The Yellow Jug Old Drugs® program is providing a positive solution to help address the issue. Individuals can bring unused/unwanted/expired drugs to participating pharmacies. Collected drugs are then taken to a Waste to Energy facility for safe and proper disposal thus helping to keep our water clean.
“We are getting the word out now to pharmacies  in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania and New York .  Interested pharmacists, pharmacies and pharmacy associations should contact us to express their interest.” States Chris Angel, President of GLCW Volunteer Board.   Angel adds, “We will then use that information to help us determine the areas we will initially concentrate.  We plan to begin the program in other states in 2012. Our goal is to have the Yellow Jug Old Drugs program available in all of the Great Lakes states within 3 years.”

Diane O’Connor, GLCW Treasurer Volunteer Board of Directors states, “We are also interested in hearing from potential funding sources to help support the program in Michigan and other states.” Most of the cost is supported by particpating local community-minded pharmacies. Program support in Michigan has also been provided by United Water, Consumers Energy Foundation, Detroit Renewable Power, MSP SCENT, Community Foundation of Northeast  Michigan, Northern Michigan Substance Abuse Services, Barry County Substance Abuse Task Force, Missaukee County Soil  Conservation District and Ten Sixteen Recovery Network.  Companies and Foundations interested in keeping our Great Lakes water clean are encouraged to contact GLCW for sponsorship opportunities to help support the Yellow Jug Old Drugs program 

Michelle Martell-Glazier, GLCW Secretary Volunteer Board of Directors for Great Lakes Clean Water states.
“Since founding Great Lakes Clean Water and  developing the Yellow Jug Old Drugs program our goal was to provide a comprehensive approach to safe and proper disposal of unused/unwanted drugs. We are extremely pleased that the Yellow Jug Old Drugs program has been so well received by pharmacies and their customers.  Because of that positive response and the support of community-minded pharmacies we look forward to providing this very important service to communities throughout the Great Lakes” 
 	There is no cost for individuals to bring unused/unwanted drugs to a participating pharmacy –donations from individuals to support the program are appreciated -see website for details 
The Yellow Jug Old Drugs program accepts non-controlled drugs only at pharmacies. Participating pharmacies have a complete list of accepted/not accepted items and can help customers with any questions they may have. 
A complete list of participating pharmacies is available on the Great Lakes Clean Water website www.greatlakescleanwater.org  Pharmacies interested in participating in the Yellow Jug Old Drugs are encouraged to contact Great Lakes Clean Water for details.   
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