Covanta Indianapolis, owner and operator of the local Energy-from-Waste facility, was recognized during this week鈥檚 Drug Free Marion County鈥檚 (DFMC) annual meeting for its role in providing聽safe disposal of medications collected at community drug take-back programs. Collected drugs are combusted at high temperatures and converted into clean, renewable energy at no charge through Covanta’s聽Rx4Safety program.
In total, Covanta Indianapolis聽has disposed of more than 1.2 million tons of drugs from communities throughout the Midwest since 2010. Safely destroying collected drugs through the Energy-from-Waste process helps deter prescription drug abuse and protects waterways and drinking water from potential contamination.
鈥淲e are extremely grateful for and would like to thank community partners Covanta Indianapolis, the Marion County Sheriff鈥檚 Office and local law enforcement agencies for their work educating the public on proper disposal of unwanted or expired drugs,鈥� said Randy Miller, DFMC executive director. 鈥淏eginning in 2014, drug drop-off boxes were distributed throughout the County and to date have collected over 4,000 pounds of prescription drugs, with most of the collected material safely disposed of at Covanta.鈥�
Covanta is also hosting a drug take-back booth in partnership with DFMC, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management on Earth Day,聽April 22聽during the聽Earth Day Indiana Festival聽from聽11a.m. to 4p.m.聽at the Historic Military Park at White River State Park.
When flushed down the drain or disposed of in landfills, medications can enter waterways and contaminate surface waters, having an adverse effect on drinking water and the environment. In addition, unused medication in the household may contribute to the growing rates of prescription drug abuse.
鈥淭oo often, people dispose of expired or unwanted medications by flushing them down the toilet,鈥� said聽Covanta Indianapolis Business Manager Bindi Kean.聽聽鈥淲astewater treatment plants are unable to filter out pharmaceuticals, leading to potential contamination of our water supplies. Proper disposal at Energy-from-Waste facilities limits the harmful effects of these medications by providing a safe disposal option, protecting both our community and our environment.鈥� Through DFMC, there are currently 11 drug drop-off boxes within Marion County for residents which is anticipated to increase to 15 by the end of this year.
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