Illinois EPA to host summit regarding medicine disposal

[September 30, 2008]  SPRINGFIELD -- On Wednesday, the Illinois EPA is convening decision-makers from the public, private and nongovernmental sectors to form new coalitions to educate and to facilitate more environmentally responsible disposal alternatives for unneeded medications and reducing the amounts of pharmaceuticals and personal care products being discharged into waters of the state that ultimately become a source of drinking water.

In recent months, the Illinois EPA, as well as other state and local entities, has become increasingly aware of the health concern from pharmaceuticals and personal care products that end up in drinking water sources and has responded with additional sampling and analysis and expanded pilot pharmaceutical collection programs. The summit is intended to build upon those efforts across the state through new public-private partnerships.

More than 100 representatives from health care, pharmaceutical, environmental, governmental, utilities and other stakeholder groups will be in attendance. The conference will be at Brookens Auditorium, University of Illinois at Springfield.

[Text from file received]