Don't pour those unwanted medicines down the sink or flush them down the toilet.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
That's the clear message from pharmacist Tim Cole.
Mr Cole, who works at Plunkett's TerryWhite Chemmart Port Macquarie, says the long-running Return Unwanted Medicines campaign aims to remove unwanted or out-of-date medicines from the community.
At this time of the year when many people are clearing out their medicine cabinets for the New Year, they may find medicines that are past their expiry date or simply have not been used.
Old and unwanted medicines need to be disposed of as they may deteriorate with time, and this results in changes to their chemical make-up.
These changes can make the medicines less effective or, in some cases, potentially harmful and toxic if they are used after their expiry date.
Getting rid of unwanted medicines has for too long been achieved by simply throwing them in the garbage or flushing them down the sink or toilet.
It has been estimated that more than 500 tonnes of medicines find their way into waterways and landfill every year.
Mr Cole said the campaign has been around for about 20 years.
He says the general public should be encouraged to return any unwanted or unused medicines.
"All pharmacies should have special bins onsite where these medicines can be stored before they are eventually removed and incinerated," he said.
"We actively encourage people to get behind this program.
"As a pharmacist, I would not encourage anyone to dispose of any old medicines anywhere other than at a pharmacy.
From an environmental perspective, my belief is that you should not put any kind of chemical into the environment.
- Tim Cole
"From an environmental perspective, my belief is that you should not put any kind of chemical into the environment."
Mr Cole said people should "definitely return those unwanted medicines" no matter where they were sourced.
National president of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia George Tambassis says the campaign collects unwanted medicines and disposes of them via special high-temperature sealed incinerators.
"This scheme sees pharmacists collect more than 700 tonnes of unwanted or out-of-date medicines a year and ensures they are disposed of effectively and safely," Mr Tambassis said.
"The RUM Project, which is available through pharmacies nationally, provides the safest and easiest way to dispose of unwanted and out-of-date medicines.
"It makes it possible to return all household medicines to any pharmacy for free to ensure safe collection and disposal.
"This is a very important program and one which community pharmacies have embraced. I urge everyone to bring their unwanted medicines into the pharmacy and if they have any questions speak to their pharmacist about them."
The RUM project advises consumers:
- Don't flush medicines down the toilet. Sewerage plants can't treat all chemicals in waste water, resulting in contamination of waterways.
- Don't pour medicines down the sink. Household medicines contain highly soluble chemicals which when entered into water systems can harm aquatic life.
- Don't throw medicines into the garbage bin. Household medicines disposed of this way end up in exposed landfill sites.
- Rather it urges consumers to:
- Check expiry dates on all medicines and separate all expired medicines into a container for return.
- Check all the medicines are actually needed - separate those medicines no longer needed into the container for return.
- Take the container to a community pharmacy for disposal.
For more details go to the website.
Also making news:
While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox from the Port Macquarie News. To make sure you're up to date with all the news, SIGN UP HERE.
