Budget cuts ax prescription drug collections in Carol Stream

A local program aimed, in part, at keeping prescription drugs out of municipal water supplies will fall victim to the state's budget crunch.

Carol Stream officials Monday said they no longer will be able to collect and dispose of such drugs at village hall.

The "Rx Box" was started through the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, with a grant from the state, and facilitated by the DuPage County Health Department. The department coordinates 12 sites in the county.

The Carol Stream village board lamented the fact that as more items are cut out of Illinois' budget, smaller programs like this one are taking the hit.

"That's the perfect example of what we go through with lack of funds," Village President Frank Saverino said.

The program allowed residents to leave unused prescription drugs at village hall where they could be disposed of safely.

Health officials say the program helped keep such drugs out of the hands of unauthorized users and also gave residents an option other than flushing them down the toilet and inadvertently sending them into nearby waterways.

"Pharmaceuticals keep being found in drinking water," Village Manager Joe Breinig said.

Although the IEPA hasn't officially stopped the program, the village will no longer accept prescription drop-offs after July 26.

Drop-offs still are available in Naperville, which conducts an independent program, at fire house No. 4, 1979 Brookdale Road. The site is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

However, Breinig said if drug waste keeps increasing, it may be too much for one village to handle and dispose of properly.

Dave Hass, spokesman for the DuPage County Health Department, said he's still optimistic the IEPA will be able to salvage money for the program.

It was started just a few months ago and there's been only one collection so far. The IEPA collected 18 30-gallon containers of drugs from DuPage.

"We're hopeful there might be something left that we could work with to keep the program going," Hass said. "The municipalities have been very enthusiastic. It's good for residents, and it's good for the environment."