In the News

News Sun, August 6, 2009

LAKE FOREST -- Gov. Pat Quinn signed a new law to establish a program through the Illinois EPA to rid traces of pharmaceuticals from Illinois water supplies.

The legislation, sponsored by state Sen. Susan Garrett, D-Lake Forest, requires the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to develop a system for managing household wastes such as pharmaceutical products, personal care products, batteries, paints, automotive fluids, compact fluorescent light bulbs, mercury thermometers, mercury thermostats and other wastes from general household waste stream.

"In the past, residents across the state have simply flushed unused medicines and poured harmful chemicals down the drain causing environmental risk," Garret said. "Now we will have alternatives to flushing pharmaceuticals -- the practice of flushing medicines into our waterways cannot continue any longer."

Senate Bill 178 also declares that in conjunction with the Department of Public Health, the IEPA must create and implement a public education program pertaining to household waste drop-off points that accept pharmaceutical products. The IEPA must also work with the Illinois State Board of Education to develop signs that furnish information on the proper disposal of drugs and distribute one of the signs to each pharmacy in the State.

"This legislation is a comprehensive response to potential health risks surrounding pharmaceuticals in water around the state," Garret said. "While tests conducted by the U.S. EPA deem current trace levels harmless, the new law will help preventing these amounts from increasing."