Coordinated efforts on PPCPs begin at first national workshop

Posted March 8th, 2013 in Healthy Waters
Last month, representatives from eight Sea Grant programs attended a two-day workshop in Jacksonville, FL hosted by Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant. Designed as an opportunity for specialists, educators, and communicators to build a national partnership on reducing pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in the nation’s waterways, the event was a first step in working towards coordinating these efforts.
 
Funded by the NOAA National Sea Grant Office, the workshop brought together a wide range of input from people who have extensive experience working on the issue of PPCPs in waterways, allowing for a tremendous collaboration.
 
Out of the two-day workshop came a unified message: The ways people choose to use and dispose of PPCPs impacts water quality everywhere.
 
In months to come, workshop participants will continue to work together to develop programs that carry that message to local communities.
 
“This is a national problem that requires local action. Sea Grant’s new working group is well-suited to tackle this issue because each program is trusted in their communities,” said Laura Kammin, IISG pollution prevention program specialist. “We are sharing our resources to create a strong and effective national partnership.”
 
The meeting also provided an opportunity for representatives from New York, Pennsylvania, and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant programs to mentor others by sharing their award-winning work on reducing PPCPs in the Great Lakes basin. These and other discussions opened the door for collaboration with the North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Oregon, and Southern California Sea Grant programs.
 
IISG has been providing communities with information about how to start safe, legal medicine collection programs since 2006. So far, IISG has helped 63 communities in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan with single-day or permanent collection programs, ensuring the proper disposal of 9.65 million pills (81,813 pounds of unused medication).
 
For more information on IISG’s efforts to spread the word about proper use and disposal of PPCPs visit www.unwantedmeds.org.

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Invasive crayfish are reshaping freshwater ecosystems, and there`s a lot of new ground to cover. 🦞

The Invasive Crayfish Collaborative is hosting two virtual lightning talk sessions packed with the latest on impacts, distribution, management, and policy.

💻 Session 1: Mon, April 27 | 3 pm ET / 2 pm CT
💻 Session 2: Tue, April 28 | 12 pm ET / 11 am CT

🔗 Registration links in bio.

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Open post by ilinseagrant with ID 17921333415324810
Invasive crayfish are reshaping freshwater ecosystems, and there's a lot of new ground to cover. 🦞The Invasive Crayfish Collaborative is hosting two virtual lightning talk sessions packed with the latest on impacts, distribution, management, and policy.💻 Session 1: Mon, April 27 | 3 pm ET / 2 pm CT💻 Session 2: Tue, April 28 | 12 pm ET / 11 am CT🔗 Registration links in bio.

Did you know unused medications can end up in our lakes, rivers, and drinking water, affecting our wildlife and water quality? That’s why proper disposal matters. This Saturday, April 25th, take advantage of the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) to safely and anonymously drop off expired or unused prescriptions.

Can’t make it Saturday? Our Unwanted Meds program can help you find a year-round drop-off location near you: unwantedmeds.org/how-to-dispose/find-a-drop-off-location

Click the link in our bio to access the Unwanted Meds drop-off locator!

#UnwantedMeds #TakeBackDay #GreatLakes #WaterQuality #SafeDisposal

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Open post by ilinseagrant with ID 17883612939539883
Did you know unused medications can end up in our lakes, rivers, and drinking water, affecting our wildlife and water quality? That’s why proper disposal matters. This Saturday, April 25th, take advantage of the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) to safely and anonymously drop off expired or unused prescriptions.Can’t make it Saturday? Our Unwanted Meds program can help you find a year-round drop-off location near you: unwantedmeds.org/how-to-dispose/find-a-drop-off-locationClick the link in our bio to access the Unwanted Meds drop-off locator!#UnwantedMeds #TakeBackDay #GreatLakes #WaterQuality #SafeDisposal

Happy Earth Day 🌎💙

From the Great Lakes to your local community, every action counts. Whether it’s reducing waste, protecting water, or learning something new, small steps make a big impact.

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Open post by ilinseagrant with ID 18583161733038907
Happy Earth Day 🌎💙From the Great Lakes to your local community, every action counts. Whether it’s reducing waste, protecting water, or learning something new, small steps make a big impact.