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EPA'S Great Lakes Earth Day Challenge: bring your old meds to Streu's Pharmacy April 18-19

Release Date: 04/16/2008
Contact Information: (EPA) Mick Hans, 312-353-5050, hans.mick@epa.gov (Green Bay) Mayor Jim Schmitt, 920-448-3015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 08-OPA060

CHICAGO (April 15, 2008) - U.S. Environmental Agency Region 5 and Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt invite Brown County residents to clean out their medicine cabinets for Earth Day.

Expired and unused medication will be collected at Streu's Pharmacy Bay Natural, 635 Main St., in Green Bay, April 18 and 19, from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.

"EPA's Great Lakes Earth Day Challenge will help people across the Great Lakes Basin safely get rid of old medicine," said EPA Great Lakes National Program Manager and Region 5 Administrator Mary A. Gade. "It's an easy way for everyone to take part in protecting the largest source of fresh drinking water on earth."

EPA is providing a $25,000 grant to assist with safe disposal of medication collected at Streu's. "The Great Lakes Earth Day Challenge serves as a valuable complement to our Sustainable Greater Green Bay Initiative," says Mayor Schmitt. "These funds will help ensure the success of this important drive to reduce effluent in our water resources, one of our priority goals for this year."

Medication accepted at Streu's: creams, inhalers, liquids, pet medicine, OTC items, and prescription pills. Please do not bring: biological waste, healthcare waste, needles and syringes.

EPA's Great Lakes Earth Day challenge aims to collect at least 1 million pills and 1 million pounds of electronic waste to keep contaminants out of the Great Lakes. More than 70 organizations, communities and businesses across the Great Lakes basin will participate. (Not all communities-including Green Bay-will have e-waste events.)

Find more information on the Great Lakes Earth Day Challenge at www.epa.gov/greatlakes/earthday2008. Share ideas on EPA's blog at www.http://flowoftheriver.epa.gov/greatlakeschallenge.