By Asifa Pasin

Sounder contributor

Expired or excess medications that are tossed in the trash or flushed down the toilet can have serious consequences for our environment and public health.

The safest and most responsible way to get rid of unused medications is through designated drug take-back programs or drop-off locations. These programs ensure medicines are disposed of in a secure, environmentally sound manner.

The Coalition for Orcas Youth, led by Alison Sanders, has introduced a program called Medicine Mailback Envelopes. These free envelopes will be available to anyone for the proper disposal of expired or unused medications.

When medicines enter the waste stream, they can leach into soil and groundwater or pass through wastewater treatment systems, ultimately contaminating rivers, lakes and oceans. This pollution poses a threat to aquatic life, disrupts ecosystems and can even contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Improper disposal can also lead to accidental poisoning of children, pets or wildlife, and may contribute to drug misuse if medications fall into the wrong hands.

The envelopes are discreet and very simple to use. They will be available at the following locations: the Sheriff’s Station (1323 Mount Baker Road), The Exchange (3398 Orcas Road), the Orcas Library (500 Rose St.), the Orcas Community Resource Center (374 North Beach Road), Island Primary Care (7 Deye Lane) and Ray’s Pharmacy (68 N Beach Road). Ray’s is the only remaining physical collection site on Orcas.

If you would like to offer this free service at your business, or would like more information, reach out to Sanders at The Funhouse or go to www.Mailback.app.