The Product Stewardship Institute and the Midwest Product Stewardship Council have developed a document outlining the key elements of a model pharmaceutical collection and disposal program. As of December 19, 2011, 27 local, state, and regional organizations have endorsed the document.
For background on the issue, see Unprescribed: Legislation to Keep Drugs Out of Water Thwarted by U.S. Pharmaceutical Lobbying, published by Circle of Blue. Here’s the article summary:
An estimated 10 to 40 percent of prescription and over-the-counter medicines are not used, but how to properly dispose of these drugs depends on who you ask. Since there is no continuous national program, states — and even some cites — are instituting their own regulations, but not without complaints from the pharmaceutical industry.
