Unwanted Pharmaceuticals: Education and Outreach

February 6, 2013

George Thomas

Executive Director Center for Environmental Initiatives

1 1

Our Mission: Working for environmental protection

and enhanced quality of life in the Greater Rochester

and Finger Lakes region through education,

collaboration and informed action.

2

Transportation Alternatives

3

Mobility Faire, 2010, RIT

Transportation Alternatives

Working Group

Clean Air

4

Sustainable Energy

5 Geothermal Workshop/Tour

Waste Minimization

Prevention of Waste Pharmaceuticals at Institutions Collection Events

Recycling

Clean Water

7

Lake Ontario Coastal Initiative (LOCI) – 2000 through 2010

EPA/DEC Phosphorus Water Quality Restoration Strategies – 2009/2011

(Black, Oak Orchard, Mill and Shipbuilders Creeks)

Salmon Creek Watershed Action Plan – 2010/2012

Maxwell Creek Watershed Action Plan – 2012/2013

8

Watersheds cross many

boundaries. Releases of

pollutants at any point

can result in degraded

water quality downstream.

Everything is connected.

9 9

Problem

10

Beach closings, algae, stressed fisheries, and threatened drinking water

Problem

11

Pharmaceuticals in drinking water

• Agriculture

• Personal use

• Improper disposal

• Institutional use

• Manufacture of

pharmaceuticals

Sources in Our

Waterways

Outreach and Education

• Messages

– Health risks – accidental poisoning, diversion and

drug abuse

– Environmental risks – pharmaceuticals in our

waterways, effects on fish and wildlife, drinking water

– Sources in our waterways

– Proper disposal

– Best management practices for institutions

– Reduce waste management costs

13

Outreach and Education

• Audiences

– General public

– Institutions (Health Care Facilities)

– Government - Counties

– Agencies – Solid Waste Management

– Conservation groups

– Pharmacies

14

Outreach and Education

• Approaches

– Posters

– Reports

– Fact Sheets

– Presentations

– Collection Events

15 DEC Poster

Outreach and Education

16

EPA Technical Report

Outreach and Education

17

CEI Report

Outreach and Education

18

CEI Fact Sheet

for

Healthcare Facilities

Proper Management of Pharmaceutical Waste

Presenter Name Here

New York State Pollution Prevention Institute (NYSP2I)

Green Homes for Cleaner Lakes

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

Outreach and Education

20

Collection Event Flyer

and

Newspaper Advertisement

Issues

• Focus on Collection Events

– Brings a lot of awareness to the issue in general

– May help more with drug abuse issues than reducing

impact on the environment

• Inventory – Where does it come from?

– Flushing unwanted pills by individuals – less than 5%

– Flushing unwanted pills by health care facilities

– Pass through our digestive systems – 40 to 50%

– Passed through cows in agriculture – 40 to 50%

– Direct discharge to surface water by manufacturers

21

Contact Information

George Thomas, Executive Director

Center for Environmental Initiatives

249 Highland Avenue

Rochester, New York 14620

585-262-2870

Email: gthomas@ceinfo.org

Web: www.ceinfo.org

22