Don’t Flush those Meds! Folsom PD Announces New Medicine Collection Bin

(Sacramento, CA) – The California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC) and its Don’t Rush to Flush, Meds in the Bin We All Win! (Don’t Rush to Flush) program announced today that it has added a new medication collection bin at the City of Folsom’s Police Department located at 46 Natoma Street.

“The insecure storage of medications in homes is fueling a national epidemic of prescription drug abuse.  Frustration of not knowing where to safely dispose of medicines leads to improper disposal by flushing, which is impacting our water and the environment,” said Heidi Sanborn, Executive Director for the California Product Stewardship Council. “Medicine collection bins make it easier for people to discard unused medications, and this new bin in Folsom provides families with an alternative to leaving unused medications in their cabinets.”

This new collection bin expands convenient collection locations available in the Sacramento region and is made possible through funding by Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District (Regional San), the City of Folsom Household Hazardous Waste Program (Folsom HHW), and the Rose Foundation.

“As a leader in environmental stewardship, Regional San is very supportive of efforts like this to keep medications out of the sewer system,” stated Christoph Dobson, director of policy and planning for Regional San. “We are thrilled to have found a convenient location at the City of Folsom Police Station and to continue our partnership with CPSC.”

It is estimated that nearly 40% of prescribed drugs are not taken and end up being stockpiled and improperly discarded – or flushed. Studies have found that up to 80% of streams in the U.S. have measurable concentrations of prescription drugs. With medications found in surface waters, coupled with the fact that each year $225 billion in medications are prescribed with that number expected to grow to $550 billion per year by 2017, there has never been a greater need for safe and convenient locations to properly dispose of unused medications.

The Don’t Rush to Flush medicine collection bin program is funded and operated through a public/private partnership. By continuing to add new, convenient locations, CPSC hopes to increase removal of unwanted medications from homes and away from children, teens, and pets while protecting our waterways for future generations.

“We are excited to offer our community a safe and convenient way to dispose of their unused medications!  The “Don’t Rush to Flush” program not only protects our waterways, but most importantly, the members of our community who already struggle with addiction,” stated Cynthia Renaud, Folsom Police Chief.

Visit www.dontrushtoflush.org for more information.

Regional Don’t Rush to Flush Locations:

California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC) educates both the public and private sectors about Product Stewardship and closely partners with business, jurisdictions, waste and recycling companies, manufacturers and others to promote and encourage sustainable practices and to recognize those companies who are taking a leadership role in participating in waste reduction.  For more information, please go to: www.CalPSC.org.