City of Berwyn issued the following announcement on Oct. 19.
WHO: The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) and U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA)
WHAT: As part of the bi-annual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, the MWRD and U.S. DEA encourage the public
to bring their drugs to special MWRD collection boxes.
WHERE:
Calumet Water Reclamation Plant, 400 E. 130th St., Chicago
Stickney Water Reclamation Plant, 6001 W. Pershing Rd., Cicero
O'Brien Water Reclamation Plant, 3500 Howard St., Skokie
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 27, 2018
In conjunction with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Chicago Field Division, the MWRD is accepting
unused or expired medication for safe disposal on Saturday, October 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at three water
reclamation plants. The event aims to provide a safe, convenient and responsible means for disposing of prescription
drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications and harm to the
environment.
To prevent or reduce accidental contamination of streams, rivers and lakes, the MWRD has participated in the U.S. DEA's
initiative each year since the event was launched in 2010.
Water treatment facilities are not designed to remove minute concentrations of pharmaceuticals, and the chemicals
could eventually wind up in area streams and waterways and have a negative impact on water quality. Numerous studies
show significant negative effects that pharmaceutical drugs have on aquatic life pulled from area waterways.
MWRD collection boxes are also available year round seven days per week from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the three plants and
Monday through Friday at our main office building at 100 E. Erie St., Chicago. Our partnership with the Cook County
Sheriff's office has supported collection boxes throughout the county as well. Visit www.mwrd.org,
https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/ and
http://www.cookcountysheriff.com/SupportServices_PrescriptionDrugTakeBack.html to find more collection
opportunities.
Original source can be found here.
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