MEDIA ADVISORY: Oct. 15, 2014

CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850-245-2112, DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us 

FREE MEDICINE COLLECTION TO BE HELD AT COSTCO

~Properly disposing unused medications helps protect the environment~

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Waste Management is hosting a free medicine collection event, "Operation Medicine Cabinet," at Costco on Saturday, Oct. 25.

The collection event will involve the proper disposal of unused or expired prescriptions from individual Tallahassee and Leon County residents to help prevent misuse and protect the environment and water supplies. When medications are not properly disposed of they can cause contamination to Florida’s water.  

Event sponsors include DEP, the Southern Waste Information eXchange (SWIX), Costco, Leon County Sheriff’s Office, 94.9 TNT, Florida Pharmacy Association, Florida Society of Health Systems Pharmacists, Florida State University’s Center for Biomedical and Toxicological Research, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Institute of Public Health.

Residents do not have to hold a Costco membership to participate. No questions will be asked at the drop-off site in an effort to encourage participation. 

WHAT:    Operation Medicine Cabinet

WHEN:    Saturday, Oct. 25

                11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

WHERE:  Costco 

                 4067 Lagniappe Way

                 Tallahassee, FL 32317 

For more information about the medicine collection event, contact Ray Moreau at SWIX at 850-386-6280 or email ray@swix.ws.

About the Florida Department of Environmental Protection

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is the state’s principal environmental agency, created to protect, conserve and manage Florida’s environment and natural resources. The department enforces federal and state environmental laws, protects Florida’s air and water quality, cleans up pollution, regulates solid waste management, promotes pollution prevention, and acquires environmentally sensitive lands for preservation. The agency also maintains a statewide system of parks, trails and aquatic preserves. To view the department’s website log on to www.dep.state.fl.us. 

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLDEP/bulletins/d297d8