Covanta awarded for drug take-back program

Covanta, Morristown, New Jersey, announced it has been named a winner of the Business Intelligence Group’s 2019 Sustainability Awards in the Service of the Year category for its Rx4Safety program. The Sustainability Awards honor companies that have made sustainability a focal point of their business practices.

Covanta’s Rx4Safety program was created to provide safe, secure and anonymous disposal for unused and expired prescription medications collected at events such as the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA’s) biannual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

These events are organized to prevent drugs from ending up in the wrong hands and to keep them out of public water supplies.  According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, storing unused medications in the home has contributed to the growing opioid crisis in America. The institute cites data that shows 80 percent of heroin users attribute the start of their addiction to prescription opioids. Additionally, improper prescription medication disposal has led to contamination of U.S. waterways. A recent U.S. Geological Survey study revealed that nearly 80 percent of rivers tested contained traces of pharmaceuticals.

To date, the Rx4Safety program has destroyed over 6 million pounds of pharmaceutical material.

“Nearly 10 years ago, Covanta recognized the increasing danger caused by a lack of a proper disposal outlets for this material,” Paul Stauder, president of Covanta Environmental Solutions, says. “Rx4Safety helps communities confront this urgent health crisis head on by providing citizens a safe and convenient means for preventing old and unused medications from ending up on our streets and in our waterways. We are grateful for the acknowledgement of our efforts to protect tomorrow for our communities and our planet.” 

“We are pleased to recognize Covanta for its sustainability efforts,” Maria Jimenez, chief nominations officer of the Business Intelligence Group, says. “It was clear to our judges that Covanta’s vision and strategy will continue to deliver results toward a cleaner, more sustainable world.”

As the amount of medication collected at drug take-back days increases, so does the demand for safe, secure and convenient medication disposal. To meet this need, Covanta has expanded its offerings to include collection kiosks and mail-back envelope services at retail pharmacies and other community health care locations across the country.