April 10, 2008
Carle RxExpress pharmacies in Champaign County are site for old medication drop-off April 19-26
April 10, 2008
In recognition of Earth Day 2008, Carle Foundation Hospital will co-sponsor a drop-off event for unused and expired medications, April 19-26, at Carle RxExpress locations throughout Champaign County.
Other participating agencies in this week-long event are the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, the City of Urbana, the City of Champaign and the Prairie Rivers Network. The collection will be the first of its kind in Champaign County for Carle RxExpress, which is coordinating the event.
"We are committed to maintaining a clean and healthy environment, and are extremely pleased to be a major part of this county-wide collection," said Dana Klarr, business development coordinator for Carle RxExpress. "Our ultimate goal is to keep these potentially harmful substances out of our landfills and water supplies."
Medications can be dropped off inside all six Carle RxExpress locations within Champaign County or at the drive-up windows, where available. Medications that will be accepted include prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs and vitamins. This includes pills, capsules and liquids. Residents do not need to remove the labels from their medications. Once dropped off, all labels containing personal information will be removed and destroyed. All medications will be removed from their containers, temporarily stored, then disposed of by the EPA. Please note that syringes and controlled substances (i.e., pain pills, sleep aids, anti-anxiety medications, etc.) will NOT be accepted. In addition, this is a "residential" collection only. Businesses should not drop off medications.
The collection comes in the wake of national news accounts that report traces of pharmaceuticals found in lakes, rivers and drinking water supplies across the United
States. The Carle RxExpress pharmacy in Danville co-sponsored the first-ever pharmaceutical collection in Vermilion County in March. Approximately 500 people dropped-off about 200 pounds of old and unused medications during the week-long event.
"With the success of the collection in Danville, we immediately thought to offer the same service throughout all of Champaign County," Klarr said. "We discourage people from dumping old medications down the sink or flushing them down the toilet, which can create an unnecessary hardship on the environment. This collection offers an option for getting rid of old medications in an environmentally safe way."
During April 19-26, unused and expired medications can be dropped off at the following Carle RxExpress locations in Champaign County:
Carle Foundation Hospital (Main Lobby)
602 W. University Ave., Urbana
Hours:
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
South Clinic (RxExpress) - Urbana
605 W. University Ave., Urbana
Hours:
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Old Farm Shops (corner of Kirby and Mattis)
1757 W. Kirby, Champaign (Drive-Through Available)
Hours:
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Carle Clinic - Champaign on Mattis
1802 S. Mattis Ave., Champaign
Hours:
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Saturday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Carle Clinic - Mahomet
1001 Heather Drive, Mahomet (Drive-Through Available)
Hours:
Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Friday, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday, 8 a.m. - noon
RxExpress - Urbana
1208 N. Cunningham Ave., Urbana
Hours:
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
For more information about this event, contact Dana Klarr, business development coordinator - RxExpress Pharmacy, at (217) 326-4581 or dana.klarr@carle.com.