Environmental Impact Initiative

Summary: The presence of pharmaceuticals in the environment has become an environmental issue. Although human excretion has been identified as the main factor contributing to the environmental loading of pharmaceuticals, improper disposal practices can also contribute to this problem. In Canada, survey results showed that consumers tend to dispose a large part of their unused and expired pharmaceuticals in regular waste and down the drain. Therefore, a change in the behaviour of consumers regarding their disposal practices could help reduce the environmental exposure to these chemicals. In this context, this paper identifies and assesses pharmaceutical disposal programs offered to the public. Programs identified aim at increasing proper disposal of pharmaceuticals and/or reducing pharmaceutical waste. The main findings are: (1) Canada does not have a nation-wide pharmaceutical disposal program but a variety of programs are established at provincial, municipal, and community levels; (2) across the Canadian province-wide programs, Alberta seems to divert the most quantity, in absolute terms, of pharmaceutical waste from household wastes and sewe