Spring prescription drug collection date set for April 27

To prevent or reduce accidental contamination of streams, rivers and lakes, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) is joining the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's national “Take-Back” initiative from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 27, to collect unwanted medicine at three MWRD facilities:

• Stickney Water Reclamation Plant, 6001 W. Pershing Road, Cicero;
• O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant (formerly North Side), 3500 Howard Street, Skokie; and,
• Calumet Water Reclamation Plant, 400 East 130th Street, Chicago.

This is the fifth nationally organized prescription drug take back day, and the MWRD has participated in each of them.

"Our wastewater treatment facilities are not designed to remove pharmaceutical products if they are poured down a drain or flushed down a toilet," said MWRD Executive Director David St. Pierre. "The chemicals can work their way into lakes or streams. This special collection opportunity gives the community an environmentally-friendly opportunity to properly dispose of expired or unwanted medications."

Additional information about the bi-annual pharmaceutical disposal collection can be found at http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/.

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