The Island Medications Return Program and Island Sharps Collection Program are helping Islanders to safely dispose of medications and sharps and protect the environment, says Communities, Land and Environment Minister Robert Mitchell.
“We want to ensure Island residents have a convenient way to properly dispose of expired or unused medications and used sharps, such as needles,” said Minister Mitchell. “It’s terrific that the Health Products Stewardship Association is now operating these excellent programs, in collaboration with the PEI Pharmacists Association and Island Waste Management Corporation, which are in line with our province’s Environmental Protection Act regulations.”
Health Products Stewardship Association (HPSA) is a national organization funded by the health products industries. Its collection programs include prescription drugs, natural health products, over-the-counter medications and sharps waste generated by the public. The goal is to prevent medications and sharps from being placed in waste or recycle bins, or being flushed down the toilet.
“It’s very important for all of us to properly dispose of medical sharps to help eliminate the risk of injury and infection from used needles,” said Health and Wellness Minister Doug Currie. “Equally important is disposing of old and unused medications so they don’t end up in the hands of children or in our sewage systems, which can be hazardous to the environment.”
Islanders can pick up and drop off free sharps collection containers at any one of the 37 participating pharmacies across the province (locations can be found at healthsteward.ca). For medication returns, all pills should be emptied into a bag or container and liquids, creams and inhalers should be kept in their original packaging and returned to a participating pharmacy.
“We are pleased to offer industry-run programming for medications and sharps return in Prince Edward Island,” said Ginette Vanasse, Executive Director, Health Products Stewardship Association. “We look forward to continuing and improving upon the great work initiated by Island Waste Management Corporation, the PEI Pharmacists Association and provincial government.”
Pharmacies will have branded sharps containers for distribution to the public. Special packaging will be provided to pharmacies for the safe storage and transportation of returned sharps containers and medications, which will be delivered to IWMC Waste Watch Drop-Off Center for incineration at PEI Energy Systems.
Any approved sharps container, including those distributed through the previous program will be accepted for return at pharmacies.
The new programs are for returns of public medications and sharps waste only. Commercial waste is not accepted through these programs.