Earth Day - April 22, 2013
Help our environment and protect your family by using a take-back program in your community.
Looking for a way to do your part on Earth Day?
Clean out your medicine cabinet of unwanted and expired prescription and over-the-counter medicines. Properly disposing of unwanted household medicines is the best way to keep them out of our environment and to protect our families.
Keep your unwanted medicines from polluting
Researchers have found antihistamines, painkillers, antibiotics, heart medicines, hormones and more in the surface waters, marine waters, and sediments of the Pacific Northwest. Medicines in the environment can be very toxic for wildlife. Even at very low levels, medicines found in the environment can harm aquatic species, alter fish behavior and reproduction, and impact the food chain, which humans rely on. Learn more about the problem of pharmaceuticals in our environment
Think before you flush or trash!
Medicines that are disposed by flushing or in the trash can get into our environment. .
Medicines that are flushed or poured down the drain can end up polluting our waters and impacting aquatic species. Wastewater treatment plants and septic systems are not designed to remove most medicines, discharging them into the environment.
Unwanted medicines are chemically active when they are thrown in the trash, even if mixed with kitty litter or coffee grounds. Modern landfills are well-designed, safe, and handle standard household waste well, however medicines in a landfill can be released to the environment through the landfill liquid that is collected and sent to wastewater treatment plants.
What can you do?
Use a medicine take-back program to properly dispose of your unwanted medicines. It's a simple, sensible way to reduce the amount of medicines entering the environment.
Where can I find a take-back program?
Some communities in Washington State have voluntary ongoing medicine take-back programs throughout the year. Find a location near you.
The DEA and some local law enforcement are sponsoring a one-day National PrescriptionTake-Back Day on April 27th- one week after Earth Day. This is a great opportunity to clean out your medicine cabinet and safely dispose of your medicines. Learn more...