Sir, – Like many households across the country, my family takes waste management seriously. Our backyard looks like a mini-recycling depot: food waste goes in one bin, dry recyclables into a second, glass into a third and residual waste into a fourth.
We collect and ensure all expired batteries go to a proper recycling drop-off point rather than ending up in landfill. We do our bit, believing the systems are in place to help us protect the planet.
Yet, a glaring gap exists in the environmental strategy: the safe disposal of expired and unused medicines. I tried three local pharmacies recently for safe disposal. I was utterly shocked to be told to flush them down the toilet as none had any facility for dealing with unwanted medicine. (I later become aware of one national pharmaceutical chain that takes medicines back)>
We are told daily to preserve our water quality, protect aquatic life and prevent toxic chemicals from leaching into our ecosystems. How can the official or unofficial advice for pharmaceutical waste be to pour it directly into the water system?
RM Block
While we have excellent, rigid streams for cardboard, plastic, compost, and glass, ordinary citizens are left in the dark when it comes to medical waste. Flushing these treatments down the drain introduces active chemicals directly into our waterways, bypassing standard treatment facilities and threatening wildlife.
If we are expected to keep a clean house and a clean country, the infrastructure must match the rhetoric.
We need a clear, consistent nationwide framework for returning unwanted medicines to pharmacies, without being told to dump them into our water supply.
So much for looking after the environment. – Yours, etc,
EAMON O’LEARY,
Co Cork.
