News

More than 1,000 pounds of medications collected at pharmaceuctical drop off

More than 415 people dropped off 1,000-plus pounds of expired, excess and unwanted medications at the city-sponsored pharmaceutical drive-up and drop-off event on Saturday, Sept. 24, at Boulder Community Foothills Hospital. Almost 47 pounds of controlled substances were also collected and will be properly disposed.

The event provided a convenient, local and safe place for residents to properly dispose of their medications, while also educating them about the potential environmental impacts of improper disposal. Until recently, pharmacies had advised patients to flush or wash unused medications down the drain. Recent studies indicate that these practices may be having an adverse affect on the environment, including streams, fish and other aquatic life, since municipal wastewater treatment facilities are not equipped to completely remove trace chemicals and compounds.

The City of Boulder, Boulder Community Hospital, Boulder County Public Health and Partners for a Clean Environment (PACE) appreciate the public’s participation in the event and remind residents not to allow water quality to “go down the drain” by flushing unused medications.
For those who could not attend the drop-off event, there are several other methods to properly dispose of medications:

· Pour liquid medications over cat litter, or some other absorbent material, and seal it in a plastic bag before placing it in the trash.
· Fill pill containers with household glue, remove all personal information from the container, and place it in the trash once the glue has dried.
· Cut trans-dermal patches into small strips, place them in a container and add glue, or mix them with used coffee grounds or cat litter.
For more information about the proper disposal of medications, visit www.boulderwater.net and click on “Pharmaceutical Disposal Information.”

The event provided a convenient, local and safe place for residents to properly dispose of their medications, while also educating them about the potential environmental impacts of improper disposal. Until recently, pharmacies had advised patients to flush or wash unused medications down the drain. Recent studies indicate that these practices may be having an adverse affect on the environment, including streams, fish and other aquatic life, since municipal wastewater treatment facilities are not equipped to completely remove trace chemicals and compounds.

The City of Boulder, Boulder Community Hospital, Boulder County Public Health and Partners for a Clean Environment (PACE) appreciate the public’s participation in the event and remind residents not to allow water quality to “go down the drain” by flushing unused medications.
For those who could not attend the drop-off event, there are several other methods to properly dispose of medications:

· Pour liquid medications over cat litter, or some other absorbent material, and seal it in a plastic bag before placing it in the trash.
· Fill pill containers with household glue, remove all personal information from the container, and place it in the trash once the glue has dried.
· Cut trans-dermal patches into small strips, place them in a container and add glue, or mix them with used coffee grounds or cat litter.
For more information about the proper disposal of medications, visit www.boulderwater.net and click on “Pharmaceutical Disposal Information.”