New Brunswick Pharmacists’ Association (NBPA) President Paul Bowman and Interim Executive Director Anne Marie Picone attended today's public launch of the extended producer responsibility program for pharmaceutical products and medical sharps (see the announcement here and the approved plan here).
The NBPA partnered with Recycle NB and the Health Products Stewardship Association (HPSA) to establish the program, which will enable New Brunswickers to drop off their expired or unwanted medications and household sharps containers to participating pharmacies, free of charge.
Program implementation is being handled by the HPSA, a non-profit association that has successfully managed similar programs in Ontario, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Prince Edward Island. Products dropped off at participating pharmacies are safely stored until they can be collected. The HPSA and product manufacturers then ensure the safe and environmentally responsible end-of-life management of materials.
“As pharmacists and local collection locations, we are proud to offer this program at New Brunswick pharmacies,” says Bowman. “Every day, we provide medications to people who need them to manage their health. This program ensures the end-of-life of unwanted medications and used medical sharps is also considered and that we are taking every step available to protect our environment and our public health."
The NBPA has worked for years to make this program a reality, and more than half of New Brunswick’s community pharmacies are registered collection locations under the program. New Brunswickers can visit the HPSA website and enter their postal code to find the nearest participating pharmacy.
See also: A Call to Action to New Brunswickers: bring back your unwanted medications and used medical sharps