Getting rid of stuff
Disposal of Unwanted Medicines:
A Resource for Action in Your Community
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Chapter 1: Introduction and Background |
Chapter 2: Unwanted Medicine Take-back Programs: Case StudiesCollection programs are aimed at reducing the quantity of unused pharmaceuticals entering the environment and reducing the amount of drugs available for diversion, theft, or accidental poisoning. These initiatives provide the legal framework and the logistic resources required to allow the general public to turn in pharmaceuticals to be disposed of safely (most of the programs described here use hazardous waste incineration with emissions controls for most non-controlled medicines, while law enforcement normally incinerates controlled substances with other confiscated materials). Typically, collections for household pharmaceutical waste accept unused or partially used medicines, including both prescription and over-the-counter medicines. These collections are beneficial because:
Several states, cities, and counties throughout the United States have successfully initiated long-term pharmaceutical collection programs, while others have organized single-day or annual collection events. Some programs have been specifically dedicated to collection of households’ medicines, while others have accepted pharmaceuticals as part of a larger household hazardous waste collection program. There is a clear need to transfer knowledge about methods of addressing the issue of pharmaceutical collection and disposal among parties who might organize collection programs. This section contains a set of case studies of medicine collections that serve as models for future action throughout the United States. Following those are descriptions of three established large-scale take-back programs from other countries that have addressed much larger audiences. Click here for a printer-friendly version of the complete set of case studies (pdf file, 64 pages) Programs offering continuous drop-off sites
Programs sponsoring single-day collection events
Mail-back program Education initiative Broad-based initiatives in the United States
Programs in other countries
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