Drugs busted

Communities taking action for clean water

Posted by Erik Hoffner (Guest Contributor) at 8:41 AM on 22 Jun 2007

Read more about: water pollution | waste | toxics | health | green living

Communities around the country are getting wise to the threat posed by the common practice of flushing old drugs, which inevitably end up in rivers after passing straight through sewage treatment facilities, feminizing fish, mutating frogs, and worse, probably.

One recent effort in coastal Maine collected hundreds of pounds of drugs for proper disposal, but this impressive total was crushed by another grassroots "clean sweep" that collected over a ton of pharmaceuticals plus an estimated $500,000 in narcotics in Michigan's Upper Peninsula in April.

These initiatives make the point very well that there is no "away" when it comes to society's waste. More resources and collection program info for Berkeley, Calif. and the states of Missouri, Maine, and Washington are listed by the Green Pharmacy Campaign here.

For story: Drugs busted
6 Comments | Post a Comment

Drugs Busted

For the last couple of years, with the totally bleak outlook and losses on about all environmental fronts, the Earthkeepers of Michigan's U P have been a real encourager to me. With their Clean Sweeps we have gathered so much toxic stuff and seen that it has been disposed of or recycled properly (by the EPA).From toxic paints, solvents and the like, to computers and components, cell phones and batteries, each year on Earth Day we have our Clean Sweeps. All grass roots: faith communities such as Buddhists and Catholics to Unitarians and Methodists. It feels great to do something positive for the environment in unity with such a diverse group of people.

by DonW at 5:26 PM on 22 Jun 2007

interfaith

Don, sounds like the interfaith aspect of the Earthkeeper effort is key...such a natural mode for meaningful action.

The Orion Grassroots Network: 1,200+ grassroots groups working for conservation & more

by Erik Hoffner at 5:09 AM on 23 Jun 2007
[ Parent ]

teleosis

Erik, I am very surprised that we do not have a take-back program here in NYC.

Chickens deserve our true friendship! So do fish! So do other sentient beings! Let us learn to be kind.

by caniscandida at 5:58 AM on 23 Jun 2007

UPers

Good example to US all! Going up to the UP today. It's majic. And it has enough wind resource from Lake Superior to power the upper midwest.

Wind manufacturers take note! Excellent public education and a very strong work ethic make this region a perfect location for your build out with the age of renewable distributed power generation and storage that is coming on fast.

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog

by amazingdrx at 6:27 AM on 23 Jun 2007

New York & national

Yes, surprising that we can't return drugs like this everywhere. If you discover a place that takes old drugs in NY (or anywhere), definitely post it up here. Check this NYT article about the issue:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/03/science/earth/03water.h ...

"In a survey begun in 1999, the agency surveyed 139 streams around the country and found that 80 percent of samples contained residues of drugs like painkillers, hormones, blood pressure medicines or antibiotics. The agency said the findings suggested that the compounds were more prevalent and more persistent than had been thought."

Why not develop a national mail-in program, where folks can send such things? I searched in vain for a gov't program that did this. This is a non-profit waiting to be formed. Or at least an EPA program of some kind.

The Orion Grassroots Network: 1,200+ grassroots groups working for conservation & more

by Erik Hoffner at 7:50 AM on 23 Jun 2007
[ Parent ]

Great Article - It's a group effort

Thanks for great article on Earth Keepers - I am the volunteer media guy.
We have lots of ongoing projects.
Our next is a free Protect Lake Superior Concert on July 15, 2007 in Marquette, Michigan. The Boreal Chamber Symphony - including 20 professional musicians, dancers from Great Lakes region - was formed just for the Lake Superior Day concert.
It's free - but donations go to Lake Superior Defense Fund.
We also recently held an energy summit.
Videos on all these projects can be seen at:
http://earthkeepers.blip.tv/

By the way - for more info on all projects check out (or call) one of our main organizers:

Carl Lindquist
Superior Watershed Partnership
1030 Wright Street
Marquette, Michigan 49855
Phone: (906) 228-6095
Fax: (906) 228-6863
Website: www.superiorwatersheds.org

Illusions: "Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof." "Be true to yourself."

by YOOPERNEWSMAN at 11:54 AM on 26 Jun 2007

ADVERTISING POLICY

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