Topic of interest ( Disposing Unwanted Medications)

Disposing Unwanted Medications

• Local agency:

The Environmental Health & Sustainability Department 

 

The environmental health strives to educate and engage the community through excellent service delivery that protects health and promotes a sustainable environment. 

Expired or unwanted prescriptions or over-the-counter medications from households have traditionally been disposed of by flushing them down the toilet or a drain. Although this method of disposal prevents immediate accidental ingestion, it can cause pollution in wastewater, which has been demonstrated to cause adverse effects to fish and other aquatic wildlife. When the water is eventually reused, it can also cause unintentional human exposure to chemicals in medications

• State agency:

Texas Department of State Health Services, Texas Environmental Health Institute, and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) serves as the State's umbrella agency to regulate environmental quality. TCEQ's mission is to protect Texas' human and natural resources consistent with sustainable economic development, and its goals are clean air, clean water, and safe management of waste.

• Federal agency

Environmental Protection Agency

is an agency of the federal government of the United Stateswhich was created for the purpose of protecting human health and the environment by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress

• International Agency

United Nation Environment

UN Environment is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system, and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.