Dear Recycle Lady,
Last week you said not to flush medications, however, I found information that says certain drugs can be flushed. See the website, www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-update/where-and-how-dispose-unused-medicines. It has some good information.
Proper Disposal is Important
Dear Proper Disposal is Important,
Thanks for the informative website. The FDA recommendation is to flush medicines, especially those harmful to others, only if a take-back option is not readily available. These medicines are flushed particularly for the protection of children or the elderly. However, included in their information is a list of flushable medicines for those who do not have access to a take-back program, as well as instructions on how to prepare these medicines for disposal in the trash. Fortunately, Greenbrier County has a take-back program located in the Greenbrier County Court House. Also, several local pharmacies have an on-site medicine drop-off box. For example, CVS Pharmacy in Lewisburg has a drop-off box and Greenbrier Medical Arts Pharmacy accepts medicines for proper disposal.
Dear Recycle Lady,
Do you accept submersible well pumps? If not, can you suggest any disposal options?
A Reader
Dear Reader,
Good question. Yes, the Recycle Center does accept submersible well pumps. When you take the pump to the Center, follow the sign for recycling aluminum cans. There will be someone there to help you unload the pump.
Dear Recycle Lady,
A couple of weeks ago you addressed Earth Overshoot Day? What is an Ecological Overshoot?
More New Terms
Dear More New Terms,
Ecological Overshoot, according to Wikipedia, occurs when the human demands made on a natural ecosystem exceed its regenerative capacity. Global ecological overshoot occurs when the demands made by humanity exceed what the biosphere of Earth can provide through its capacity for renewal. The Global Footprint Network collects data about the availability of natural recourses and the capacity of the ecosystems to renew the natural recourses that have been consumed. This ecological data collection indicates that the global community has been exceeding the regenerative capacity of the Earth since 1970. In 2008, the ecological overshoot had grown to a deficit of 50%, which means that it takes Earth 1.5 years to regenerate the renewable resources that have been used by humans and to absorb the carbon dioxide waste that they produced in one year. The interest we are paying on our ecological debt comes in the form of soil erosions, food shortages, and climate change.
Great News: Thanks to the tremendous support of the community, the Scouts have already collected over 100 pounds of plastic!
Roses are red. Violets are blue. Please go green.
The world needs you.
Happy Valentine’s Day to all!
Have questions about recycling, or interesting information about recycling? Send questions or requests to grecycle450@gmail.com. Dear Recycle Lady is sponsored jointly by the Greenbrier Recycling Center and Greenworks Recycling.
