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 Residents are encouraged to drop off their unwanted medications
at approved collection sites so they can be incinerated, which is
the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recommended approach for
pharmaceutical disposal. Both flushing medications down the toilet
and throwing them in the trash are discouraged. Collection sites
participating in this event can be located by visiting
www.deadiversion.usdoj. gov/drug_disposal/takeback/index.html
“This event is a great opportunity for residents to securely drop
off any unused or expired medications,” said Bruce Hauk, Illinois
American Water President. “It’s important for us to keep these items
out of our landfills and water supplies as well as the hands of
those who may misuse or abuse them.”
During the April 2016 Drug Take Back Day event, the DEA collected a
record-breaking amount of unused medications. Over 893,000 pounds of
unwanted medicines—about 447 tons—at almost 5,400 sites across the
United States was collected. In Illinois, 24 tons was properly
disposed of through the one-day take-back event.
 In addition to the DEA’s efforts, Illinois American Water has also
partnered with the Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal (P2D2)
program, local pharmacies, environmental stewards, police
departments and government officials to implement 37 permanent
programs in Illinois. These programs are located in Alton,
Bartonville, Belleville, Caseyville, Champaign (three sites),
Chicago, Chillicothe, Collinsville, Columbia, Dixon, East Alton,
Edwardsville, Fairmont, Freeburg, Glen Carbon, Madison, Maryville,
Morrison, Mt. Carroll, Mt. Vernon, O’Fallon, Orland Hills, Pekin,
Peoria (three sites), Peoria Heights, Pontiac, Red Bud, South
Beloit, Sterling, Streator, Urbana (two sites) and Waterloo.
Hauk said, “We encourage those who cannot participate on Oct. 22 to
continue to use their community pharmaceutical disposal programs.
All of these efforts make a difference.”
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The P2D2 model was developed by Pontiac High School Township students and their
teacher Paul Ritter. Through P2D2’s efforts, millions of pounds of unwanted
medications have been collected and disposed of properly. To find a permanent
collection program in Illinois, please visit http://www.epa.illinois.gov/services-locator/.
To learn more about P2D2 please visit www.p2d2program.org.
About Illinois American Water – Illinois American Water, a subsidiary of
American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the
state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to
approximately 1.2 million people. American Water also operates a customer
service center in Alton and a quality control and research laboratory in
Belleville. Illinois American Water ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction
with Water Utilities in the Midwest" according to J.D. Power’s 2016 Water
Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction StudySM. American Water is the largest
and most geographically diverse publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater
utility company. Marking its 130th anniversary this year, the company employs
6,700 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking
water, wastewater and other related services to an estimated 15 million people
in 47 states and Ontario, Canada. More information can be found by visiting
www.amwater.com.
[Karen L. Cotton
Manager, External Affairs
Illinois American Water]
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