WKBT La Crosse, WI-NewsChannel 8-Medication Collection Program Wins National Award
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Many people know the benefits of prescription medication, but what do you do with the extra pills when you are done using them?
La Crosse County has a nationally recognized program to help get rid of unused medication. Solid Waste Department staff collects and properly disposes of all medications from residents and area businesses at their facility on Highway 16 in Onalaska.
Last week, the program received the North American Hazardous Materials Management Association's 2007 Program Innovation award at the association's annual conference. "This program is one-of-a-kind in the nation," says Jeff Gloyd, Special Waste Manager for La Crosse County. "We are the first to use our program design to operate a successful and permanent medication collection program."
Collection of medications began June 1. Once collected, all medications are transported to a licensed hazardous waste incinerator and burned at very high temperatures. So far, the program has collected over two tons of medcations.
Scientists say flushing old pills down the toilet, or throwing them away creates problems because the drugs end up in our lakes and streams and damage local wildlife.
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