Too much medication is ending up in the region’s landfills, and officials are urging the public to think twice before they dump their drugs.
Periodically, Metro Vancouver analyzes the garbage headed for landfills and typically finds enough tossed prescription medication to give it a category all its own.
“Pharmaceuticals is characterized,” said Albert van Roodselaar, Metro Vancouver’s division manager for utility analysis and environmental management.
He couldn’t say what the percentage of the waste load it represents, but it’s significant enough that it’s broken out into a separate category.
Some years ago, the Metro Vancouver conducted a poll and found that only one in five people knew outdated drugs should be taken back to the pharmacy. That means 80 per cent were likely throwing them in the garbage or flushing them down the toilet – both bad for the environment.
Unused medications can pose a significant health, safety and environmental hazard when improperly stored or disposed.
While it’s not at crisis point now, van Roodselaar said the region must ensure the problem doesn’t escalate.
If it does, he said, it could be a big task turning it around.
As such, the region is renewing its call for residents to properly dispose of unused pharmaceuticals.
British Columbians can return expired or unused medications to pharmacies across the province at no cost. The B.C. Pharmacy Association (BCPhA) and Metro Vancouver campaign to raise awareness of the issus involves more than 20 pharmacies in Port Coquitlam, Richmond, Surrey and West Vancouver.
“There is no ‘away’ when you throw medications away in your garbage or flush them down the toilet,” said Metro Vancouver Director Greg Moore, chair of the region’s Waste Management Committee. “Our hope is that, by working with the region’s pharmacists, we will make it easier for people to safely dispose of these potentially harmful medications.”
More information about returning unused medications to pharmacies can be found at www.medicationsreturn.ca.
