What should citizens do with unwanted medications?

The Holland Board of Public Works and the Ottawa County Health Dept are co-sponsoring a Personal Pharmaceutical Collection:

Saturday, September 24 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

12251 James Street (the Health Department building)

Commonly collected products are:

* Prescriptions (includes “controlled substances”)	* Medicated ointments and lotions
* Over-the-counter medications	* Inhalers
* Vitamins	* Veterinary medications

Questions?

Matt Allen, Ottawa County Health Department, ph# 494-5569 or

Judy Visscher, Holland Board of Public Works, ph# 355-1210

 

“Managing unused medications is a safety as well as an environmental concern. Traditionally, we were told to flush unwanted medications down the drain or toilet rather than keeping them around so they would not be misused…however, antibiotics and other medications in a septic system can destroy beneficial bacteria necessary for the system to operate. Wastewater treatment plants are not designed to remove or process many compounds found in medications that end up being discharged into our surface and groundwater…National attention is growing to develop more appropriate methods of safely disposing of unwanted medications.” (from Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, “A Remedy for Residential Drug Disposal”, November 2007, http://www.deq.state.mi.us/documents/deq-ess-cau-rxbrochure.pdf)

 

Pharmaceutical Collection – FAQ’s

What if I can’t make it to the collection on that day?

1)    Store the un-needed medicines in a secure place until another collection is announced, or

2)    Mix with kitty litter, dirt or other absorbent to keep someone from using it, in an unmarked container and place in your regular trash, or

3)    Ask your pharmacy if they have a take back program

Can I bring liquid medicines?

Yes

Do I have to be a city resident? County resident? BPW customer?

This collection is open to all Ottawa County residents.

I am a doctor, and have many expired pharmaceutical samples in my office. Can I bring them?

This is a collection for residents only

What is a controlled substance?

A controlled substance is generally a drug or chemical whose manufacture, possession, and use are regulated by a government. This may include illegal drugs and prescription medications

What are you going to do with the drugs collected?

Law enforcement will take the controlled substances collected to their incinerator. The remainder of medicines collected will be stored by the county until shipped to a licensed incinerator.

Why can’t I just throw the drugs in the trash?

Medicines disposed of in the trash in their original containers and condition can be taken and misused. At the landfill, rainwater trickles through the trash and collects contaminants. If this “leachate” is not recirculated at the landfill, it may seep to groundwater or be sent to a wastewater treatment plant, ultimately reaching lakes and streams. Incineration is the best all-round option.

Will there be another collection scheduled?

We and other agencies are setting up on-going drug take back programs, where unwanted drugs can be dropped off at participating pharmacies and law enforcement offices. Watch the news for details!

Can I bring medicines that have been prescribed for someone else? Do they have to be present?

The person the prescription is for does not need to be present.

Can I bring my sharps? Other medical equipment?

No. This collection is for medicines only. Ottawa County Health Dept has a separate sharps collection program. Contact the Health Dept to learn more.

We have many elderly at our assisted living residence. A lot of them can’t make it to the collection, Can we just set up a drop box here on site?

No, because controlled substances may end up in the box without being secured. The collection event will have a law enforcement officer present to secure any controlled substances collected. People who are unable to make it to the event themselves should ask a loved one to bring in the unwanted medicines for them.

Do I have to leave the labels on the containers? I don’t want my personal information available.

Please mark out your name, or other personal information, but leave the label on, so the pharmacist can easily identify the medication during the sorting process.

Holland, Michigan –August 22, 2011- The Macatawa Area Coordinating Council has been awarded a $665,000 grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Approximately $40 million was offered under this program (contingent on the availability of appropriations) to improve water quality in the Great Lakes.  The MACC submitted a grant proposal in April 2011 with the goal of implementing agricultural best management practices in critical areas of the watershed (mostly in Fillmore and Overisel Twps). Implementing these practices is anticipated to prevent 13,000 tons of sediment, 8 tons of phosphorus and 19 tons of nitrogen from entering waterways annually.

Mary Fales, Watershed Project Coordinator, was excited to make the announcement to the MACC Policy Board today and said that “not only is this one of the largest monetary grants the Macatawa Watershed Project has ever received, it also has the largest projected water quality improvements”.  Fales was especially appreciative of the widespread support the project has received from area farmers, local and state agencies, Michigan State University Extension, Michigan Farm Bureau, state representatives and senators, and U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow and U.S. Congressman Bill Huizenga.

Eligible participants include those who farm land in the Kleinheksel Drain watershed and/or the East Fillmore Drain watershed (maps below). These subwatersheds have been identified as priority areas because of historical monitoring results, hydrologic modeling and an in-depth inventory that was completed in 2010.

Farmers who are interested in participating in the program will be qualified for $400,000 of cost-share funding for a variety of practices including:

• implementing cover crops, no-till, grassed waterways, and/or buffer strips, or
• becoming verified in the Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP).

 

The Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) is an innovative, proactive program that helps farms of all sizes and all commodities voluntarily prevent or minimize agricultural pollution risks.

The three year grant will also provide support for the Macatawa Watershed Project Coordinator position and as well as a technical assistant housed at the Allegan Conservation District for the duration of the grant.

Any farmer that owns, rents or farms land in the target areas and is interested in learning more about this opportunity, should contact Mary Fales, Watershed Coordinator, at mfales@the-macc.org or 616-395-2688. Work on this project will begin in September.