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economist suntribune news thursday may 162002 discarded medicine threatens water by jeff mitchell staff writer dont flush that unused penicillin the improper disposal of medica tions is a threat to york regions drinking water and ought to be addressed with a recovery program the solid waste com mittee was told wednesday rod muir founder of a company called green ideas is seeking funding from york and other gta regions to set up a program to collect and dispose of medicines there are meds in the water system and the problem is disposal mr muir said theyre flushing them down the toilet or in the sink or theyre putting it in landfill there are meds in the water system and the problem is disposal mr muir proposes a system that would return unused meds to the phar macy from which they were dispensed where they would be destroyed the proper disposal of medicines is through incineration he said he asked york region for 7000 a penny a person to launch the recovery program the committee has asked for a report on the issue regional works commissioner kees schipper said while contamination by used medication has not been identified as problem in york it is worthy of inves tigation its been seen in lake ontario water more than lake simcoe water mr schipper said a number of regions have identified it as a problem it is an ongoing concern and it is being looked at seriously solid waste director andy campbell said the region does accept pharmaceu ticals as do many drug stores several drums of used medication were collected at the regions hazardous waste depots in markham and east gwillimbury he said mr campbell said the region could likely do more to increase awareness of the hazardous waste depots as a poten tial disposal site for meds pharmacists could do the same he said i think the issue is promotion and education about the opportunity the consumer has to get rid of medica tions he said janet becigneul media relations manager with the canadian pharmacists association said the industry regards safe disposal of drugs as a responsibility most pharmacies do engage in those kind of programs as a service to their patients she said ask your pharmacist if theyre not doing it ask them if they can leaf fans take it to the streets mti i ti i dm wi k r 1 ifiipl yi w 1 vjlf 1 v j w bf v 3h1 fcl fm v m 1 4 t z sftfe ssrr s few amb w s m ax am mrm ofc 1 mm v 1 53 itp h yv 551 ii r i slsii v fcimsffifly m imr ijfll m msw wr jlllll 1 bl 1 jiibtb swbk a sssmf j n 2 mfim -s- j i vv i- lifm v h jhj il 1 it- 81 v photodavid kates toronto maple leaf fans had reason to celebrate tuesday night in markham and whitchurch- stouffville including above on main street in unionville their favourite team eliminated the ottawa senators with a 30 win at the air canada centre in toronto the leafs open their stanley cup semifinal series tonight with the carolina hurricanes game time is 7 pm on cbctv lets make cancer history for information about cancer services or to make a donation h88 9393333 wwwcancerca canadian j- smm cancer anadienne society it du cancer b ami r in an r r i hi u u u oil and filter change aoura motor oil is specifically formuluted ro meet the engineering specifications of your vehicle resulting in a cleaner engine and maximum performance now open for your service 5201 highway 7 east markham at mccowan ishh select service ife acura 9059 direct service 90 5 9 4 8 8 8 6 6 48 8665 ill llll villlil mil miihiii diitlrr riiav c ir i iili fur