10,000 Seal&Send medication disposal
envelopes will be provided to communities via water utility bills
and solid waste disposal programs to protect water quality and
combat the opioid crisis in rural communities
BANNOCKBURN, IL, Jan. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Stericycle,
the leading provider of compliance-based solutions, including
award-winning solutions for safe medication disposal, and the Rural
Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP), a non-profit network
focused on improving water quality for rural and small communities
across the U.S., have partnered to pilot a program focused on
improving water quality and combatting the opioid crisis in rural
America.
In early 2020, RCAP will be distributing 10,000 of Stericycle's
Seal&Send medication mail back envelopes to rural communities
in multiple regions across the United
States. The envelopes can be used to safely and sustainably
remove leftover medications from home medicine cabinets and the
environment. The program allows people to mail back their unused
drugs for destruction and disposal by regulated medical waste
incineration, thus removing potentially harmful pharmaceuticals
from water systems and sources and landfills in these
communities.
"The strength of our network is relationships with communities,"
said RCAP Chief Executive Officer, Nathan
Ohle. "We are founded on the belief that partnerships make
our work and impact better, and this is the perfect example of
finding innovative partnerships that benefit the communities we
serve."
This first-of-its kind pilot will include an innovative approach
to reaching and connecting with rural communities on the issue of
safe drug disposal. RCAP will be working with six regional partners
to distribute Stericycle's Seal&Send envelopes, along with
educational information about safe drug disposal, in water utility
bills or other solid waste programs they are coordinating in these
communities. RCAP regional partners are located in all 50 U.S.
states, Puerto Rico, and the
U.S. Virgin Islands, and are
launching this pilot to assess the viability of expanding this
program across the country.
"From leftover prescription drugs in the home fueling the opioid
crisis to pharmaceutical contamination of water ways and drinking
water, safe medication disposal is critical to protect people, the
public, and the planet," said Stericycle Chief Executive Officer,
Cindy Miller. "We are proud to
partner with and support the important work that RCAP is doing to
protect rural communities from the negative impacts of improper
medication management in the home."
"Our mission at RCAP is to serve rural communities in addressing
whatever issues they might face," continued Ohle. "Our work focuses
on assisting communities in providing safe drinking water and
sanitary wastewater services, and we know the harmful effects that
prescription drugs can have on water sources and systems. This
innovative approach is a small way to combat a powerful issue
confronting communities across the country, and by partnering with
Stericycle through their Seal&Send solution, we can help
communities protect water systems and sources while also preventing
opioid abuse in the home."
If the pilot is successful, RCAP will work with Stericycle,
grant funders and regional partners to expand this water protection
program to all 50 states across the U.S.
About Stericycle
Stericycle, Inc., (Nasdaq: SRCL) is a U.S. based
business-to-business services company and leading provider of
compliance-based solutions that protect people and brands, promote
health and safeguard the environment. Stericycle serves more
than one million customers in all 50 U.S. states and 20 countries
worldwide with solutions for regulated waste management, secure
information destruction, compliance, customer contact, and brand
protection. For more information about Stericycle, please
visit www.stericycle.com.
About RCAP
RCAP is a national non-profit network providing opportunity,
assistance, and practical guidance to small communities in all
fifty states, U.S. territories, and tribal lands to ensure access
to safe drinking water, sanitary wastewater disposal, and economic
prosperity for all rural America. To learn more about RCAP, visit
www.rcap.org.
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SOURCE Stericycle, Inc.