DEC to Hold Albany-Area Pharmaceutical Collection Event Tomorrow

ALBANY, NY (03/02/2010)(readMedia)-- Staff from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will be at the Empire State Plaza in Albany tomorrow, March 3, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the bus station on the concourse level to collect unused and unwanted pharmaceuticals from area residents for proper disposal.

The collection is part of DEC's ongoing "Don't Flush Your Drugs" campaign to raise awareness about the impacts of household drugs on water quality. DEC's Pollution Prevention Unit and Environmental Conservation Officers will be on hand for the collection event at the Plaza ( MACROBUTTON HtmlResAnchor http://www.ogs.state.ny.us/plaza/Directions.asp). Sharps and mercury thermometers will not be collected.

To learn more about the issue, go to DEC's web site, http://www.dontflushyourdrugs.net, which provides detailed instructions and suggestions for properly disposing pharmaceuticals, a list of frequently asked questions about the issue, and a range of Internet links regarding ongoing studies and actions.