[Pharmwaste] Yellow Jug Old Drugs News Release 1.21.13

[Chris Angel]

NEWS RELEASE							Issue Date: 1.21.13
CONTACT: Chris Angel  989-736-8179    info at greatlakescleanwater.org
7746 Pounds of Unused/Unwanted Drugs
Collected and Disposed of Properly in Recent Collection in Michigan

 During the recent quarterly collection at participating pharmacies in Michigan, the Yellow Jug Old Drugs program collected 7746  lbs. of unused/unwanted drugs. Yellow Jug Old Drugs is a program that works in partnership with local pharmacies to collect and properly dispose of unwanted/unused drugs in a safe and approved manner to help keep our water clean. Individuals can dispose of unused/unwanted drugs free of charge at participating pharmacies.
Currently there are  251  pharmacies participating in Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin. The program was started by Great Lakes Clean Water (GLCW), a non-profit organization in May 2009. A total of  55,516  lbs. has been collected to date. Total weight is for drugs collected only and does not include product packaging as plastic, paper and items are returned to customers for recycling where appropriate.
According to Chris Angel, GLCW President, interest in the Yellow Jug Old Drugs program is very strong and continues to grow. “It’s a win-win for pharmacies to provide the program and for the residents where those pharmacies are located. “We all want clean water and disposing of unused/unwanted drugs properly is something we can all do to help keep our water safe.”
Angel added that presently retail pharmacies can only accept non-controlled substances, however that is soon to change as new regulations proposed by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) will soon allow retail pharmacies to accept controlled substances as well. “Since the beginning of our program four years ago we planned for being able to accept controlled substances at some point. We are now taking steps that will allow us to do that in accordance with the new (DEA) regulations.”
	Program support in Michigan is provided by local pharmacies, United Water, Detroit Renewable Power, SSCENT, Community Foundation of Northeast Michigan, Northern Michigan Substance Abuse Services, Barry County Substance Abuse Task Force, Gratiot County Solid Waste Authority, Ten Sixteen Recovery Network and the Michigan DEQ Michigan Community Pollution Prevention (P2) Grant Program for the development of ongoing household drug collection programs.
To find a participating pharmacy in your area go to www.greatlakescleanwater.org  or call 989-736-8179
Like us on Facebook and Follow on Twitter



Chris Angel,President
Volunteer Board Of Directors
Great Lakes Clean Water Organization
www.greatlakescleanwater.org
989.736.8179
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: News Release 1.21.13 7746 pounds
	of unused unwanted drugs collected recently in Michigan.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 258968 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://lists.dep.state.fl.us/pipermail/pharmwaste/attachments/20130121/d307c64f/NewsRelease1.21.137746poundsofunusedunwanteddrugscollectedrecentlyinMichigan-0001.pdf