(March 4, 2011) – Team 10 Coalition, an organization committed to drug-free, healthy living, has announced the implementation of four new pharmaceutical disposal programs in Caseyville, Collinsville, Fairmont City and Maryville. The new programs are a product of teamwork between Team 10 Coalition, Illinois State Police, local law enforcement and Illinois American Water. A kickoff event will be held at the Caseyville Village Hall located at 909 South Main Street in Caseyville, on Tuesday, March 15, 2011, at 1:00 PM.
The pharmaceutical disposal programs, which will be located at Village Hall in Caseyville, and police departments in Collinsville, Fairmont City and Maryville, feature a secure disposal box for easy disposal of unwanted medications. Through collaboration with the local police chiefs in all four communities, medications collected will be properly disposed through incineration, preventing the flushing of medications into the water supply and helping to prevent misuse and abuse of medications.
The group hopes their work will help protect water resources and keep unwanted drugs out of children's hands. Caseyville Police Chief J.D. Roth said, “By promoting local disposal programs and practicing proper disposal of pharmaceuticals we are able to protect two very valuable resources, our children and our water.” He continued, “I commend this group for the efforts they are putting forth to make this happen.”
The disposal box, donated by Illinois American Water, will be installed this month and administered by the local police departments. “This program gives residents an alternative to flushing their medications, which can be harmful to our water sources,” said Karla Olson Teasley, president of Illinois American Water. “By properly disposing of unwanted medications we are helping to protect our water supply for future generations.”
Team 10 Coalition Chairman, Gary Peccola, agrees. Stating, "Proper disposal of pharmaceuticals enables our communities to improve our environment and quality of life. This is what Team 10 strives to achieve through all of our programs.”
The pharmaceutical disposal programs were created through a model developed by Pontiac High School Township students and their teacher Paul Ritter. The program, P2D2, has been recognized by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Natural Resources as a model for all pharmaceutical disposal programs. In addition, the Drug Enforcement Agency supported efforts nationally with the first-ever National Take Back Day in September of 2010. Through all of these efforts, thousands of pounds of unwanted medications have been properly disposed. To learn more, please visit www.epa.state.il.us/medication-disposal.
About Illinois American Water
Illinois American Water, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to more than 1.2 million people. American Water also operates a customer service center in Alton and a quality control and research laboratory in Belleville.
Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest investor-owned U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs more than 7,000 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to approximately
15 million people in more than 30 states, as well as parts of Canada. More information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com.
In 2011, American Water is celebrating its 125th anniversary with a yearlong campaign to promote water efficiency and the importance of protecting water from source to tap. To learn more, visit www.amwater125.com.
###
PRESS RELEASEwww.amwater.com
No comments:
Post a Comment