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SMARxT Disposal Options for PharmaceuticalsNext Drop Off Day is September 26, 2009 8 am - 2 pm Longmont United Hospital - Main Office Building (MOB) 1950 Mountain View PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF LOCATION - NOT IN MAIN LOBBY GO TO MAIN OFFICE BUILDING WEST OF THE LOBBY SAVE OUR FISHDo not flush medication down the drain
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Annual Drop Off Event sponsored by Longmont United Hospital and City of Longmont 2009 Event Poster - hang it up at work! Protecting Surface & Ground Water from Contamination |
P2 Program501 East 1st AvenueLongmont, CO 80501Phone (303) 651-8667 |
When is the next event?
The next event in Longmont will be September 26, 2009. However, some local pharmacies are now accepting unused medications for proper disposal. Ask your pharmacist how they dispose of the wastes.
What is accepted at the event?
All pharmaceuticals (prescription and over-the-counter) from residents will be accepted. This includes pills, capsules, liquids, inhalers, patches, etc.
Who may participate?
Any Colorado resident may participate.
Why should I participate in this event?
3-7% of all medication goes unused, according to estimates by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. Pharmacy groups previously recommended flushing medications down the drain.
However, recent research shows that wastewater treatment plants may not “treat” these chemicals and they will pass through and into the river. Some chemicals can cause harm to fish species. In fact, a recent study conducted on Boulder Creek shows that levels of “endocrine disruptors” below the discharge of a treatment plant were high enough to cause fish mutations.
What can I expect at the event?
The event is held on a Saturday, so there should be ample parking available.
Enter the hospital main lobby and follow the signs to the event table to drop off your wastes.
A pharmacist will be onsite to answer any questions and review the wastes prior to disposal.
You may be asked to participate in a short survey. The information gathered will be used to improve our publicity of the event.
What if I can't make the scheduled events?
For safety reasons, please only drop off your medication during the hours of 8 am to 2 pm and only at the event table.
You can hold the wastes for next year's event.
You can throw the wastes in the trash after making it unusable. Smarxt Disposal options listed above.What happens to the wastes I drop off at the event?
At the event table, staff will empty pill bottles into an approved container. This will reduce the weight and hence, disposal costs. An approved contract wastes hauler will deliver the pharmaceutical wastes to an approved facility for proper disposal by incineration.
Controlled substances will be accepted at the event by the City of Longmont Police and properly disposed (by incineration) at a facility in Denver.
Pill bottles (plastic or cardboard) will be recycled through Ecocycle.
Do I have to do anything to the wastes prior to drop off?
It would be prudent to remove or scratch out personal information from any bottle. Please retain the label that identifies the medication so that we can segregate any controlled substances.
Can I drop off drugs prescribed for my pet?
Yes, or you may contact your vet to see if they collect them for reuse.
Can I drop off other medical equipment like needles and mercury thermometers?
No, this event is for pharmaceuticals only.
Medical equipment like needles cannot by recycled and are not accepted the the Haz Waste Event. Residents may throw these in the trash if they are placed in a sharps container or heavy duty plastic container that can be sealed. Check with your own trash service if it is not the City of Longmont.
Mercury thermometers and other household hazardous wastes may be disposed through the City of Longmont's Public Works facility's Household Hazardous Waste Drop Off Event at 375 Airport Road.
Can I drop off other wastes like personal care products, pesticides, etc.?
No. Other household hazardous wastes may be disposed through the City of Longmont's Public Works facility's Household Hazardous Waste Drop Off Event at 375 Airport Road.
What if I have more questions?
Please call the City's Pollution Prevention Program at (303) 651-8667.
The EPA has identified numerous pollutants that can be considered endrocrine disruptors. These not only include the obvious pharmaceutical products, but also over the counter medications, fire retardants, and fragrances commonly found in cosmetics, deodorants and lotions... to name a few categories.
Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCP):Click here to go to the EPA website for more information.
Wastewater treatment plants were not designed to treat pharmaceutical wastes or its byproducts. In the past, proper disposal included flushing medication down the drain or toilet. However, recent studies have shown that many chemicals are not treated by the wastewater treatment plants. These can pass through the plant and contaminate the receiving water (the river). Fish mutations have even been recorded in Boulder Creek below a wastewater treatment plant.
At this time, we really don't know the extent of the long or short term problems from this contamination to the environment, animal or human health. Hopefully, technology will be developed soon to treat the wastes at the wastewater treatment plant.
FREQUENTY ASKED QUESTIONS
Are fish mutations happening in the St. Vrain River below Longmont's wastewater treatment plant? ----Most likely. However, this is a worldwide problem and not a Boulder County problem. The St. Vrain River is home to some fish species that are not found anywhere else in Colorado. For that reason, the Department of Wildlife (DOW) prohibits fish studies on the St. Vrain River.
What is the City doing about this problem? ----Monitoring, public education and the SMARxT Disposal Campaign.
St. Vrain River Monitoring - The City of Longmont Public Works & Natural Resources has been conducting river monitoring for over 20 years. During 2005-2006, we partnered with the USGS to conduct sampling of the St. Vrain River for endocrine disruptors. Click here to read more about the St. Vrain River studies. As expected, some pollutants were found and some show an increased concentration as the water moves through the city. We also conduct annual stream health assessments where benthic organisms are collected and evaluated.
Is my drinking water contaminated? ----Click here to read more about Longmont's drinking water.
If you want general information about PPCPs and drinking water, click here to visit the American Water Works Association (AWWA) website.
Does the City monitor the drinking water for pharmaceuticals? ----NO, the City's water supply and treated water are monitored for the parameters required to ensure safe and high quality drinking water. The EPA has not yet identified the specific pollutants of concern or any pharmaceutical from the list of potential endorcrine disruptors. Additionally, the EPA has to adopt the 'approved methods' for the analysis of these chemicals once they are identified.
The City of Longmont's Drinking Water Annual Report lists the testing done and is available on-line.
Today, we suggest disposal to a landfill. However, this may have future consequences if the medication contaminates the landfill leachate, escapes and enters the groundwater. This option is better than disposal down the drain, but probably just creating environmental problems for the next generation. Studies have shown that some chemicals persist for several decades in groundwater. These are probably low level concentrations, but we don't know the extent of problems that could be caused from long term low level exposure to the chemicals or their byproducts.
Environmental Sustainability|Water Utilities|Public Works & Natural Resources|City of Longmont
This page was updated
February 5, 2010
City of Longmont Public Works & Natural Resources
Pollution Prevention Program
