More than half of all Americans take at least one prescription drug; one in six takes three or more; and 28 percent of women and 22 percent of men over the age of 65 take five or more prescriptions regularly. Add to that all the over-the-counter drugs we take for headaches, colds and allergies and that’s a lot of toxic trash and a big, big environmental problem.
As our recent article on green birth control emphasized, any medication you take is secreted in trace amounts and finds its way into our water sources. Sewage treatment systems are designed to combat biological contaminants, but chemical compounds from antibiotics to Zoloft are slipping through and showing up not only in our water, but in our wildlife. A 2003 U.S. Geological Survey water-quality test found prescription drugs and chemicals from personal-care products in every stream it sampled.
And that’s not even the whole of it. On top of drugs seeping into our water, there’s all those plastic bottles that are so hard to get rid of. What’s a hypochondriac to do?
I wish I had a brilliant solution that would apply to everyone out there, but when it comes to prescription drug recycling, the solution is local and the best answer will probably require some research on your part.
First, call your local recycling center to see if they’ll take the plastic containers in curbside recycling or the prescription meds in hazardous waste collection. Some centers will have special pill or hazardous material drop days that you may not know about, so this is the first place you should call.
If that’s a no-go, try contacting your pharmacy to see if they will take back or recycle any part of your prescription. Many U.S. counties are pushing for a take-back program similar to that in Canada, where the pharmaceutical manufacturer is responsible for receiving unused medication, but for now your pharmacy might be some help.
If neither of those options pan out, try to donate the medications before tossing them out. Often times free clinics will gladly accept medications within the expiration date and most veterinary clinics (and some human ones!) can reuse the plastic bottles that your pharmacy turns its nose up at. Call around and see if you can find a clinic that will use the bottles, then collect discarded bottles from friends and family before donating.
If you can’t find anyone to take the pills off your hands, don’t flush them down the toilet, which is the most direct way to our waterways. Instead, dispose of pills according to SMARxT guidelines to keep kids, pets and wild animals from getting into them.
As for those orange containers, there’s a number of ways you can reuse them in your own home for organizing small items like loose change, washers and bolts, spices, buttons. My family uses them for individual-size servings of things like salad dressing when we pack lunches. Add your own ideas in the comments section to share with your fellow greeniacs!
Source: BecauseAction.com
