Expired, unwanted medicines can now be deposited in pharmacy disposal bins
As from yesterday, expired or unwanted medicines are to be deposited in specialised disposal bins located in pharmacies across Malta and Gozo. This was announced by Minister for Environment, Sustainable Development and Climate Change Jose Herrera during a press conference to launch the next phase of the nationwide ‘Sort It Out’ campaign which will highlight how the correct disposal of dated or redundant medicine is the next step forward for a better and safer environment.
Medical waste is generated when the medicinal item expires or is no longer needed by the consumer. This type of waste can be dangerous not only to those who handle it, but also to the environment and, therefore, this type of waste should be diverted from landfills.
Minister Herrera said: “With over 60 per cent of Malta’s pharmacies participating, depositing medicinal waste at local pharmacies is a convenient solution which aims to encourage people to do the right thing. It is an effort that benefits everyone and goes a long way to making the waste management process easier, more efficient and less detrimental to the environment.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health Chris Fearne said he was very happy with the project because it reflects a wide participation, not just on an interministerial level, but also among government and non-government entities.
“So far, 163 private pharmacies are participating in this project, and I am convinced that there will be more, making the project a success. This is an important system not just with regard to the disposal of expired medicines, but also health wise and from an environmental point of view,” said the deputy prime minister. He said that antibiotic resistance is currently a major global problem, to which the irresponsible disposal of expired medicines contributes.
The deputy prime minister concluded by calling for patients to not take more medicine than necessary. A technological system is being introduced to make sure of this, he said, add that it is bad practice to store medicine ‘just in case’ because once the medicine is being used its effectiveness is limited. He encouraged buyers to make use of this project.
Parliamentary Secretary for Consumer Rights, Public Cleansing and Support for the Capital City Deo Debattista spoke of the Malta Medicines Authority’s role in innovative science, better known as green chemistry. Among various topics, it also evaluates the element of how consumers dispose of waste that can be harmful to health and surroundings. The parliamentary secretary explained that the Malta Medicines Authority, together with Wasteserv, has introduced a free and more secure way to dispose of medicine. “Consumers will find specialized containers in every pharmacy, which are to be used by people who want to dispose of any medications. Disposing of such waste will be simple, just like mailing a letter,” he added. He concluded by encouraging the public to cooperate and dispose of medications in these specially designed bins to protect both the environment as well as the community.
Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds and Social Dialogue Aaron Farrugia said that this initiative is part of a much larger project which has benefitted from around €7 million in EU cohesion funds. This, along with other projects being implemented by Wasteserv, “is a clear that the government is using EU funds to make the environment a priority and to overcome the challenge of waste,” he said.
The chairman of Wasteserv, David Borg, said: “By correctly separating waste at source, one will not only be making a tangible and positive contribution to the environment, but also safeguarding public health.”
Wasteserv yesterday launched an educational campaign aimed at explaining what medicinal items can be recycled and which are to be disposed of at pharmacies. Common items that should be disposed of in the medicinal waste bins include loose or packaged tablets and capsules, bottled medicines, inhalers and medicinal cream tubes. With regard to cardboard packaging, information leaflets and any plastic caps, cups or spoons included with medicines need to be placed in the (grey/green) recycling bag. Plastic inhaler casings are to be separated from the canister and recycled, while empty glass medicine bottles should be disposed of with glass waste. On the other hand, empty tablet and capsule packaging, along with cosmetic items, should go in the (black) mixed waste bag. Bio-hazardous items such as syringes and epipens need to be disposed of in a special container and taken to a civic amenity site.
The newly launched Medical Waste Scheme forms part of the project ‘Encouraging sustainable waste practices in households and beyond’. More information is available at www.wasteserv malta.com or by calling the freephone 8007 2200.