Lake Macatawa Clean Up
Saturday October 8 at 1 p.m.
Kollen Park – at the end of West 11th Street and Kollen Park Drive
Meet at the east end of the park

Join Outdoor Discovery Center staff at Kollen Park for the Annual Clean Up of Lake Macatawa and the Macatawa River. ODC will provide kayaks for groups on the water, while other groups will clean up along the shores. The Macatawa Area Coordinating Council sponsors the event and will be providing a pizza dinner following the clean up to thank volunteers for their help. Please consider volunteering and help make our watershed healthy!

Sign up by calling (616) 393-9453

To All Local Farmers:

Fall Farmer Event
Thursday October 6^th at 5:30pm
(RSVP by September 30^th to Mary Fales at 616-395-2688 or mfales@the-macc.org)

The Macatawa Area Coordinating Council, Macatawa Watershed Project will be hosting our Fall Farmer Event at the Piper Restaurant on South Shore Drive in Holland, MI. Dinner and dessert will be provided.

Evening discussion will include:

$665,000 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Grant: (Cost-share funding from local farmers only) – Presented by Mary Fales, Watershed Coordinator

Sediment Sampling Study – Presented by Dr. Graham Peaslee, Hope College

Cover Crops: Increase your yield, improve soil and save money – Presented by Dave Robison, Midwest Cover Crops and Forage Agronomist

Address of the Restaurant:
2225 South Shore Drive
Holland, MI

Sponsored by:

Hamilton Farm Bureau, Zeeland Farm Services, and Michigan Farm Bureau

Please remember to RSVP by September 30!

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.