News

Island Medications Return and Sharps Collection Programs

PEI, | Aug 17, 2015

The new Island Medications Return Program and Island Sharps Collection Program were officially launched at a press conference in Charlottetown on July 22, 2015. “It’s terrific that the Health Products Stewardship Association is now operating these excellent programs, in collaboration with the PEI Pharmacists Association and Island Waste Management Corporation, which are in line with our province’s Environmental Protection Act regulations,” said Communities, Land and Environment Minister, Robert Mitchell.

The new programs replace the previous Don’t Get Stuck and Take It Back! programs. “We look forward to continuing and improving upon the great work initiated by Island Waste Management Corporation, the PEI Pharmacists Association and provincial government,” said Ginette Vanasse, Executive Director of the Health Products Stewardship Association (HPSA).

For Island residents, the transition should be almost seamless; members of the public can continue returning their expired or unused prescription medications, natural health products and over the counter drugs to their closest participating pharmacy. Sharps containers can also be picked up and returned to these pharmacies, free of charge, for the safe disposal of medical sharps waste.

As of August 10^th 2015, all 46 retail pharmacies located on the Island are participating. You can find your nearest participating pharmacy by searching for your address or postal code on the HPSA map tool at www.healthsteward.ca.

For more information, please contact Alex Freemark, Program Coordinator for Eastern Canada at programseast@healthsteward.ca.