What do a malfunctioning computer, an old paint can, and a leftover bottle of prescription medication have in common? They are all items that should be disposed of carefully. Why? Because if these items are not disposed of properly they contaminate the water and the soil and ultimately poison the food and water we consume, resulting in disease and illness.
Americans generate 1.6 million tons of household hazardous waste per year. The average home can accumulate as much as 100 pounds in the basement, garage, and storage closets. Dumping these items on the ground or down the sink or sending them off to the landfill is typically illegal. Recycling and proper waste disposal give us a way to combat this threat to our health and to our natural resources.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, recycling one million laptops saves energy equivalent to the electricity used by more than 3,500 US homes in a year. For every 1 million cell phones recycled, 35,000 pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold, and 33 pounds of palladium can be recovered.
Flushing old medications down the toilet is known to disrupt biological systems when the toxic mix of drugs enters our water systems. Safe disposal of unused prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications is regulated by the US Drug Enforcement Administration. While the law was recently revised to allow certain pharmacies to participate, there are no facilities in Santa Cruz County or Pima County that offer this service. The closest place to drop off unused prescription drugs and other legal medications is at the Nogales Police Department. There is a locked container inside the lobby accessible 24 hours, seven days per week.
For the protection of our children and our environment, please dispose of hazardous waste items mindfully.