"Where Fillmore County News Comes First"
Online Edition
Thursday, May 23rd, 2013
Volume ∞ Issue ∞
- 11:44:26, May 21st 2013 - airmaxs52274 - Have you ever thought about adding a little bit more than just your a ... [Read More]
- 5:56:33, May 18th 2013 - modgudur - I guess the child is anti-gun control since Obama went to all that trouble ... [Read More]
- 9:27:41, May 16th 2013 - caal girl - Nice outfit on you. I loved some of the dresses but am holding my breath ... [Read More]
- 2:03:34, May 14th 2013 - - Thanks for sharing the trip with us! ... [Read More]
- 4:12:01, May 9th 2013 - Amanda Ziebell - Wow! Thanks to the Fillmore County Journal for this kind story. For a ... [Read More]
- 11:47:30, May 7th 2013 - EW - ramble.....ramble.....ramble..... ... [Read More]
- 10:25:25, May 7th 2013 - Thunder6 - Great article! I love to see the Youth of Fillmore County receiveing acco ... [Read More]
- 6:52:10, May 6th 2013 - Jason Sethre, Publisher of Fillmore County Journal & Olmsted County Journal - Maryh, ... [Read More]
- 7:29:56, May 5th 2013 - maryh - Where are OCJ's available for pickup...other than at the new office? ... [Read More]
- 2:41:47, May 3rd 2013 - Remark1976 - Mrs. Buckbee, I just looked up Senate File 796 and in it there are said p ... [Read More]
Recycling 101
Fri, Jul 2nd, 2010
Posted in Home & Garden
Posted in Home & Garden
Comments
I would assume that nearly every home in Fillmore County has at least one container of medicine that is no longer wanted, needed, or has reached its date of expiration. How do you safely dispose of these excess tablets, liquids, and capsules? I am asked this several times each month. Proper disposal of medication is not difficult, however, it is extremely important.
DO NOT flush them down your toilet or drain them into your sink. DO NOT just throw them into a ditch or bury them in your garden. They are not environmentally friendly and will put many living things in your area, including your children, your grandchildren, your pets, wild birds and other animals, and you at risk.
Medicines can harm beneficial bacteria found in septic systems on farms and municipal wastewater treatment plants. They can kill the bacteria that are responsible for breaking down waste. To make matters worse, many of these drugs are not destroyed as they travel through the system. Small concentrations are then released into nearby streams, rivers, and lakes, exposing aquatic life to unwanted drugs, hormones, and steroids. Some experts believe the deformed frogs discovered in Minnesota a few years ago were offspring of ancestors who were exposed to minute amounts of drugs over a period of many years, changing their genetic patterns.
How can we dispose of this stuff? Place pills and liquids into a laundry detergent bottle or plastic pop bottle. Add an inch or two or water. Allow the tablets and capsules to dissolve. Then add a few spoons of flour, charcoal, dirt or kitty litter, (used, if you have it) to discourage anyone from consuming the mixture. Then place the top on the container and add it to your landfill garbage. Do not put this with your recycling.
Do not accept free samples of pharmaceuticals if you are not going to use them. Purchase only the medication that you really need and keep it all in one location. This should limit purchasing products you already have, just to dispose of them when they expire a year or so down the road.
Evidence of drugs, hormones, and steroids has been found in many of our streams and rivers. Please help keep our beautiful streams in Fillmore County suitable for our trout and other aquatic life. A frog with five legs just doesn't seem like a good thing.
DO NOT flush them down your toilet or drain them into your sink. DO NOT just throw them into a ditch or bury them in your garden. They are not environmentally friendly and will put many living things in your area, including your children, your grandchildren, your pets, wild birds and other animals, and you at risk.
Medicines can harm beneficial bacteria found in septic systems on farms and municipal wastewater treatment plants. They can kill the bacteria that are responsible for breaking down waste. To make matters worse, many of these drugs are not destroyed as they travel through the system. Small concentrations are then released into nearby streams, rivers, and lakes, exposing aquatic life to unwanted drugs, hormones, and steroids. Some experts believe the deformed frogs discovered in Minnesota a few years ago were offspring of ancestors who were exposed to minute amounts of drugs over a period of many years, changing their genetic patterns.
How can we dispose of this stuff? Place pills and liquids into a laundry detergent bottle or plastic pop bottle. Add an inch or two or water. Allow the tablets and capsules to dissolve. Then add a few spoons of flour, charcoal, dirt or kitty litter, (used, if you have it) to discourage anyone from consuming the mixture. Then place the top on the container and add it to your landfill garbage. Do not put this with your recycling.
Do not accept free samples of pharmaceuticals if you are not going to use them. Purchase only the medication that you really need and keep it all in one location. This should limit purchasing products you already have, just to dispose of them when they expire a year or so down the road.
Evidence of drugs, hormones, and steroids has been found in many of our streams and rivers. Please help keep our beautiful streams in Fillmore County suitable for our trout and other aquatic life. A frog with five legs just doesn't seem like a good thing.