Sept. 22, 2014 -- On Saturday, Sept. 27, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) is joining the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's (U.S. DEA's) national unwanted medicine "Take-Back" initiative to collect pharmaceuticals at three local facilities -- O'Brien Water Reclamation Plant, Calumet Water Reclamation Plant and Stickney Water Reclamation Plant -- as a means to prevent or reduce accidental contamination of streams, rivers and lakes.
The program provides the public a safe means of disposing prescription drugs, while also educating them about the potential for abuse of medications, as well as gives them an opportunity to help keep the nation's water resources clean, preserve the environment and protect public health. The DEA launched its first take-back event in September 2010 to offer a more environmentally-responsible and secure way to dispose of medication.
MWRD's wastewater treatment facilities are not designed to remove pharmaceutical products if they are poured down a drain or flushed down a toilet. The chemicals can work their way into lakes or streams, so this special collection gives the community an environmentally-friendly opportunity to properly dispose of expired or unwanted medications.
MWRD has participated in all of the U.S. DEA's nationally-organized prescription drug take-back day programs and has removed hundreds of pounds of medicines from the waste stream throughout the last several years. Saturday's event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
See also:
"National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day helps preserve water resources, environment"
"Water resources, environment benefited by National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day"
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