Program will keep drugs out of water supply

Before last Wednesday, Sauk Valley residents had no place to safely and responsibly dispose of unwanted medications.

That changed with the implementation of a pharmaceutical disposal program in Sterling.

Illinois American Water, which operates Sterling’s water department, partnered with the city of Sterling and the Sterling Police Department to launch the program.

The company donated a secure pharmaceutical drop box to the city. It was placed at the police station, 212 Third Ave.

At that location, residents are invited to bring their unwanted medications and deposit them in the drop box. From there, the meds will be collected and burned, which is the recommended method of disposal, according to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

The new program is much better than the “unrecommended” methods of disposal: discarding drugs in the trash or flushing them down the drain or toilet.

What’s so bad about those options? Sitting in the trash, prescription drugs could end up in the hands of children. Otherwise, they are buried in a landfill, where they could leach into the groundwater. Dumped down the drain, meds directly pollute the water supply – hence the strong interest by Illinois American Water in preventing such actions.

The water utility actually is a leader in starting pharmaceutical disposal programs. Sterling’s is its 25th in the state.

According to the Illinois EPA, only 36 of Illinois’ 102 counties have such programs, so Illinois American Water’s role is significant.

Audie Foster, operations superintendent for Illinois American Water’s Sterling District, said the company’s goal is to further expand drug collection centers.

State Sen. Tim Bivins, R-Dixon, who attended the kickoff event in Sterling, shares that aim.

“I’d like to see them expand this program in areas that may not have the program already,” Bivins said.

Sounds good to us.

Along with Illinois American Water, the state EPA has been a strong proponent of teaching people how to properly dispose of unwanted pharmaceuticals and implementing disposal programs. Thousands of pounds have been collected so far. The EPA has a website – www.epa.state.il.us/medication-disposal – that people can visit for more information.

Residents are asked to call the Sterling Police Department at 815-632-6640 for specifics on what can and can’t be left at the drop box. For example, mercury thermometers, needles and biomedical waste are not allowed.