Illinois American Water has become a model for water source protection through proper pharmaceutical disposal. To date, the company has helped set up 12 disposal programs and contributed to the collection and proper disposal of several thousand pounds of unwanted medications.
The pharmaceutical disposal program utilized by Illinois American Water was developed by Pontiac High School Township students and their teacher Paul Ritter. The program, P2D2, has been recognized by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, Illinois EPA and the Department of Natural Resources as a model for all pharmaceutical disposal programs. According to Ritter, the program has helped collect and dispose of over 130,000 pounds of unwanted medications.
Illinois American Water, a member of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Medication Education Disposal Solutions task force, works with P2D2, communities and environmental leaders to place pharmaceutical drop boxes at local police departments so residents can easily dispose of their unwanted medications. The drop boxes, similar to mail boxes, are placed in a convenient location within the police department and bolted to the floor. Collected medications are destroyed through incineration.
“This program gives residents an alternative to flushing their medications, which can be harmful to our water sources,” said Karla Olson Teasley, president of Illinois American Water. “By properly disposing of unwanted medications we are helping to protect our water supply for future generations.”
On September 25, 2010, the DEA is holding their first-ever National Take Back Day for prescription collection. Community disposal programs supported by Illinois American Water include three locations in Peoria as well as sites in Bartonville, Champaign, Chillicothe, Pekin, Peoria Heights, Pontiac, Streator, Urbana and Waterloo.
According to Teasley, work continues and additional programs will be set up by year-end, including the implementation of the newest program in Alton on September 28, 2010. “Our goal is to eliminate the flushing of medications by establishing a network of secure collection centers across the state.”
