PHARMACEUTICALS

Many pharmaceuticals and personal care products contain chemicals that have been found in minute amounts throughout our water bodies and the environment. They are not easily removed by conventional wastewater treatment methods and are said to be "persistent". Some believe that evidence is building that they may have harmful effects.

Medical facilities, practitioners, and retailers should return expired and unused medicines to their supplier or to a private company specializing in handling these products. One such local company is RX Automation.

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products should not be flushed down the toilet or drain. Instead it is now recommended (for most types) that they be removed from their container and put in the trash in such a way as to make them unrecognizable, such as by mixing with old coffee grounds.

For more info visit EPA's website on pharmaceuticals and the FDEP's website on medicines.