Dropping Off PPCP Contamination
The threat of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in waterways continues to plague municipalities and treatment plants across the country.
When people flush illegal drugs and prescription pharmaceuticals down the toilet or dispose of them in a drain, the chemicals make their way through treatment plants that are not equipped to remove them and into waterways where they can harm wildlife or taint drinking water supplies to detrimental effect.
A U.S. EPA study from last year found blood pressure or seizure medication in the effluent of nearly every one of the 50 large wastewater treatment plants the agency tested plus at least 12 highly-prescribed pharmaceuticals in 40 or more of the samples.
A solution to the problem may be found at its source. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) has introduced a drug drop-off box program, hoping to encourage consumers to dispose of their pharmaceuticals in a responsible manner that could save waterways.
MWRD, which operates the largest wastewater treatment plant in the world and treats an average of 1.5 BGD, has installed four 38-gallon drop-off boxes at the front entrances of its largest plants and in the lobby of its main office building in downtown Chicago.
“These drug collection boxes require 24-hour police supervision,” a MWRD representative told Water Online. “Therefore they need to be located near a stationed MWRD police officer in a location that is accessible to the public.”
The containers cost a total of $6,480 and the liners, including a disposal service, will cost $9,180 per year. They come from MedSafe, a medical waste disposal company, and meet the requirements of the DEA Controlled Substance Act. Consumers place their pharmaceutical products directly into serialized liners with prepaid return mailers, which are sent directly to MedSafe. Each one has a unique identification number to enable tracking.
“The contents from the liners are not viewable from the outside when sealed,” MWRD’s spokesperson explained. “In fact, we do not review the contents.”
MWRD does not accept illegal drugs, liquid containers of more than four ounces, needles, syringes, batteries, trash, or other hazardous materials.
The effort was inspired by the success of MWRD’s participation in the DEA’s National Drug Take Back Day in April, when consumers can dispose of unwanted pharmaceuticals for free at the locations where drop-off boxes are now standing. MWRD collected 257 pounds of unwanted pharmaceuticals that day, the most in MWRD’s 11 times hosting a Drug Take Back event.
Of course, the boxes won’t be much help if consumers don’t continue to use them. To get the word out, MWRD has initiated a robust public outreach campaign. It has sent messages about the boxes directly through Facebook and Twitter, posted information on signs at its plants, sent out press releases, displayed information on its website, and distributed fliers during events in the community. Future plans include a public service announcement on local television and radio and posted online.
“Through our public outreach presence and many partnerships formed in the area we are making strides, evident in the amount of drugs collected at our take back days and by the fact that our board of commissioners saw this program as effective enough to continue on a permanent basis,” the MWRD representative said. “The amount of exposure given to this issue through the national discussion also gives us momentum and sheds light on the importance of protecting our water environment, spurring further engagement.”
MWRD has some advice for other municipalities that might be interested in introducing similar programs. Partner with local law enforcement agencies, it says, to ensure that collection and destruction of pharmaceuticals are handled according to all relevant drug and environmental laws.
“It’s important to understand all legal requirements in instituting any program, as well as determining the budget available for such a program,” MWRD’s spokesperson said. “There are many options for collection and disposal, so we would recommend researching those and selecting the best choice for a utility’s particular circumstances.”