ADVERTISING
Proper disposal of medicines
On the occasion of World Environmental Education Day, the municipal services department of the city of Darmstadt (EAD) is providing information on the correct disposal of pharmaceuticals.
According to a 2022 study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), an estimated 50 percent of household medications end up as waste. The German Federal Ministry for the Environment advises that unused or expired medications should not be disposed of down the toilet, sink, or drain.
Although the wastewater is treated in the sewage treatment plant, not all pharmaceutical residues can be filtered out, meaning these substances can also enter the respective body of water and harm flora and fauna.
To avoid this, the EAD (Darmstadt Waste Management Authority) offers residents the opportunity to drop off small quantities of medication at the EAD's mobile hazardous waste collection unit, which travels through Darmstadt in the spring and autumn. Dates will be announced in advance. Larger quantities of medication are also accepted at the EAD's hazardous waste collection point (Sensfelderweg 33). The hazardous waste collection point is open Tuesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesdays from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., and on the first Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. According to the Federal Ministry for the Environment, disposal via regular household waste is also possible. In addition, pharmacies offer to take back expired medications.
(DARMSTADT – PSD / stip)
Further information is available on the website www.arzneimittelentsorgung.de .
