Here’s an eco-friendly way to get that overflowing medicine cabinet under control. A new, year-round program at area CVS Pharmacies allows customers to mail unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medication to a Texas facility for safe disposal.
The postage-paid envelopes cost $3.99 each, which doesn’t seem like too much to pay for a 7″x 8″ envelope that you can fill with medications and know that they won’t end up being flushed into our water supply.
Some numbers underline the huge need for programs like this. Did you know that an estimated 200 million pounds of unwanted medications are improperly disposed of every year? Last year, over two nationwide “Free Drug Collection Days” (April and September), Massachusetts did its part to remedy the situation by collecting over 12 tons of unwanted and expired medicines. Nationwide, more that 309 tons were collected.
But. . . 100,000 tons (200 million pounds) minus 309 tons knocks just the tip off the problem. Clearly, we need to do more!
And, now, doing more couldn’t be easier. This fall’s National Free Collection Day is on Saturday, October 29th. In Western Mass, there are thirteen locations in Hampshire County and ten in Franklin County. Drop off hours are 10am to 2pm. To find the location nearest to you go tohttp://northwesternda.org/nwda-programs.
For those in other parts of the country, check with your state drug enforcement agency or go to www.dea.gov to find the contact person for your state.
There will be another collection day in the Spring. I’ll keep you posted on the date.
Note: No liquids will be accepted in either program; also no needles/syringes, no lancets, no thermometers, no IV bags and no chemo drugs.
