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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009 |
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Health Organizations Launch Take-Back Program for Unwanted MedicinesDENVER— The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and a consortium of concerned organizations have launched a pilot program offering a secure and environmentally responsible way for people to dispose of unwanted medicines. Tamper-resistant collection boxes now are available at locations around the Denver metro area, including several King Soopers stores, two Tri-County Health Department offices and a Denver Health clinic, as well as City Market stores in Breckenridge and Dillon. “Keeping waste medicines out of the hands of children and drug abusers and out of the environment is an emerging challenge,” said Greg Fabisiak, environmental integration manager for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. “We want to offer the public an alternative to flushing unused drugs, which can end up in our water supplies.” The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has contracted with Curbside Inc., to install the secure collection boxes and collect and dispose of the waste medicines in their original containers. The boxes are intended for household medications, including prescription drugs and over-the-counter products, but cannot accept narcotics, controlled substances or medications from clinics, hospitals or nursing homes. A guidebook attached to each collection box will explain which products can be deposited. Boxes are available at the following locations: Aurora To prevent theft, each box requires two keys, and Curbside Inc. will immediately destroy the contents upon collection to render them unusable. The residual waste materials will be incinerated at a facility licensed to handle medical waste. The pilot program is scheduled to run for two years and will provide state regulators with data needed to determine if a statewide program is feasible. “If you don’t have access to a box, please don’t flush your unwanted medicines,” Fabisiak said. “We recommend contacting your city or county government to see if a collection event is planned for your community. If not, mix unwanted medicines with kitty litter or coffee grounds to make the medicine unusable and dispose of it in your household trash. Also, for security reasons, we suggest that you blot out or remove your personal information from the containers prior to disposal.” The pilot program is made possible by funding and other support from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Colorado Pharmacists Society, Denver Health, Denver Water, Greenprint Denver, King Soopers-City Market, Metro Wastewater Reclamation District, Peer Assistance Services, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, Rotary of Evergeen, Southeast Metro Stormwater Authority, Town of Castle Rock, Tri-County Health Department, EPA Region 8, the Summit Water Quality Committee, the Pollution Prevention Advisory Board and the High Country Conservation Board. For more information about the program call CO-HELP at 877-462-2911 or visit www.coloradomedtakeback.info . King Soopers and City Market, Kelli McGannon, 303-778-3251 Tri-County Health Department, Gary Sky, 303-220-9200 Denver Health at Denver Public Health, Dee Martinez, 303-436-6615 Please feel free to contact any of the other sponsoring organizations to comment about their participation. ---30--- |
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