What started out as a innovative, new program to keep old medications out of the waste stream in LaCrosse County, Wisconsin, has grown to become an award-winning initiative now used by more than 30 counties in three states.
Special waste manager Jeff Gloyd created the program in which LaCrosse County began collecting old over-the-counter drugs and prescription medications to keep them out of the regular waste stream. Pharmaceuticals thrown out that way have increasingly seeped into natural waterways and, eventually, human drinking water supplies, raising concerns about environmental and health dangers.
Instead of sending old drugs to landfills, Gloyd’s program arranged for their disposal in a licensed hazardous waste incinerator. Over the first seven months, the program collected and incinerated more than 8,000 pounds of pharmaceuticals, or about 3.1 million pills’ worth.
Since summarizing the program’s success at the 2007 North American Hazardous Materials Management conference and the 2008 conference of the Associated Recyclers of Wisconsin, Gloyd has seen his effort copied by more than 30 counties in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa.
While the imitation might be a rewarding source of flattery, Gloyd’s efforts have won him even further accolades: the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Lloyd D. Gladfelter Award. The award, handed out by UW’s Department of Political Science, singles out “resourceful ideas generated by government employees” … and comes with a $3,000 prize for Gloyd.
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is here any program like this anywhere in new england?
is there any major chain pharmacy or pharmaceutical company on this wagon?