Who: Marsh Pharmacies, MainStreet Market Pharmacies, and sponsors including the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM)

What: Spring 2013 “Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet” unwanted medicine collection

When: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday, March 15

           9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, March 16

           11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, March 17

           9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday, March 18

Where: Indiana Marsh Pharmacies and MainStreet Market Pharmacies

On the Web: http://www.marsh.net/pharmacy/clean-out-your-medicine-cabinet/  

Spring cleaning season is here, and Hoosiers who need to clean out their medicine cabinets will have a safe place to take them this week at Marsh and MainStreet Market pharmacies’ Spring 2013 “Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet” event.

Event times and dates are:

• 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday, March 15

• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, March 16

• 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, March 17

• 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday, March 18

To locate a Marsh or MainStreet Market Pharmacy, visit www.marsh.net/pharmacy/pharmacy-locator or http://www.mymainstreetmarket.net/pharmacy/.   

Additional sponsors include IDEM, the Indiana Poison Center, Inmar, IU Health, NuGenesis Environmental Services, and Indiana Association for Home & Hospice Care, Inc.

To be accepted, all items must be fully identifiable and in their original containers. The name of the medication must be visible on the label; a black, permanent marker should be used to block out personal information, including name, address and Rx number; sharps should be sealed in a non-returnable, puncture-resistant rigid container (such as a laundry detergent bottle).

The specific types of pharmaceuticals that will be accepted include:

• Prescription medications;

• Over-the-counter medications;

• Vitamins and nutritional supplements;

• Veterinary medications; and,

• Sharps or needles in resealable hard, plastic containers.

The following items will not be accepted:

• Controlled substances;

• Hazardous, poisonous or toxic substances;

• Flammable liquids containing alcohol;

• Mixed medications or medications in alternate containers;

• Medical or household chemicals;

• Inhalers; and,

• Waste from doctor's offices, medical clinics, or other organizations.

Disposing of unwanted medicines properly is the best way to reduce harmful impacts of pharmaceutical waste. It protects our lakes and streams, as well as pets and children, who can be poisoned as a result of accidental ingestion of pharmaceuticals thrown in the garbage. More than 10,000 Hoosiers have safely disposed of nearly 150,000 containers of expired or unneeded medicines since the “Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet” event began in 2008.

IDEM provides additional information about unwanted medicine and household hazardous waste disposal on its recycling Web page at www.recycle.IN.gov.  

About IDEM

IDEM (www.idem.IN.gov) implements federal and state regulations regarding the environment. Through compliance assistance, incentive programs and educational outreach, the agency encourages and aids businesses and citizens in protecting Hoosiers and our environment.

About Marsh Supermarkets

Headquartered in Indianapolis, Marsh operates 69 Marsh, 3 O’Malia’s Supermarkets and 25 MainStreet Markets in Indiana and Ohio, with 40 Indiana pharmacy locations.  Marsh has the distinction of being the first grocery store in the world to use electronic scanners to ring up purchases. 

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