April 30, 2014 -- On Saturday, April 26, staff at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago's (MWRD) Calumet, Egan, O'Brien, and Stickney Water Reclamation Plants collected 161 pounds of unwanted or expired medications from the public during the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) national Take-Back day.
The program provided the public a safe means of disposing prescription drugs, while also educating them about the potential for abuse of medications, as well as gave 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 medications. Wastewater treatment facilities are not designed to remove minute concentrations of pharmaceuticals and as a result, the chemicals could wind up in streams and waterways and potentially have a negative impact on water quality.
As such, this program strives to highlight the importance of reducing the amount of pharmaceuticals disposed of before they have a chance to reach treatment facilities and/or the waterways.
See also:
"Water resources, environment benefited by National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day"
"National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day to help preserve environment, water resources"
"Metropolitan Water Reclamation District collects 250 pounds of meds for DEA unwanted drug initiative"
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