Miamisburg, Ohio – April 9, 2010:  The City of Miamisburg will host its fourth annual recycling drop-off event on Saturday, April 24 at the Municipal Service Center, 600 N. Main Street.  From 8 a.m. to noon that day, Miamisburg citizens can drop-off their electronics and batteries for recycling, while medications will also be accepted from 9 a.m. to noon.

A local recycling company, Special Waste Systems, will again partner with the City on this free service, providing citizens an environmentally safe opportunity to dispose of items such as:
• Monitors, televisions, VCRs and telephones
• CPUs, video boards, keyboards and computer mice
• Scanners, laptops, docking stations, printers, CRTs and circuit boards
• Copy machines and fax machines
• Stereo equipment and cash registers
• Wire and cabling
• Networking, mid-range and mainframe equipment
• Calculators, typewriters and audio/visual and telecommunications equipment
• Batteries:  Alkaline, NiCad, lead acid, lithium and mixed
• Mercury and mercury-containing devices
• Unwanted or expired prescription medications
• Unwanted over-the-counter medications
• Pet medications

Why medications?

Why take special measures to dispose of unwanted medications?  Because these substances can get into rivers, streams and drinking water when placed in the trash or flushed down toilets.

“The U.S. Geological Survey found that more than 80 percent of sampled rivers tested positive for medications like antibiotics, birth control, hormones and antidepressants,” said Mike Ekberg of the Miami Conservancy District, which is also participating in this event.  “Unfortunately, we don’t know enough about the long-term risks associated with exposure to even small quantities of pharmaceuticals.”

Narcotics and controlled substances will NOT be accepted and neither will the following:
•  Actiq (fentanyl citrate)
• Daytrana Tansdermal System (fentanyl)
• Avinza Capsules (morphine sulfate)
• Baraclude Tablets (entecavir)
• Ryataz Capsules (atazanavir sulfate)
• Tequin Tablets (gatisfloxacin
• Zerit for Oral Solution (stavudine)
• Meperidine HCL Tablets
• Percocet (Oxycodone and Acetaminophen)
• Txyrem (Sodium Oxybate) or Fentor (fentanyl buccal tablet)
• Needles or medications with an aerosol sprayer, such as nebulizers

Dropped-off medications should be kept in their original containers and not mixed with other medications.  Miamisburg police officers will help staff the event to ensure drugs are handled and disposed of properly, and the firm Enviro-Medical Waste Services will also provide assistance.

Miamisburg citizens are encouraged to take advantage of this drop-off service.  Drivers should use the Kercher Street entrance at the Service Center, and Public Works crews will unload items from vehicles.  For more information about this event or for other safe disposal alternatives, contact the Public Works Department at 847-6635.

Earth Day Celebration

In conjunction with the special recycling drop-off event on April 24, local families can also participate in a celebration of Earth Day. Among the planned activities will be an Otter Swap at Community Park from 9 a.m. to noon.  At this event, residents can bring unwanted, but still usable, items for trade.  Visitors can browse through donated items and take home free of charge anything they can use.  However, in order to take an item, a person must either donate an item or make a monetary donation to an "environmental fund."  Donated items cannot include live animals, weapons, hazardous materials, perishables or large building materials.

Starting at 10 a.m. that day will be an Earth Day Downtown Fair in Library Park (inside at adjacent Carnegie Center in case of rain).  In addition to informational booths from local environmental clubs and businesses, volunteers will assemble and participate in a downtown alleyway cleanup.  All supplies needed for the cleanup will be provided.

Please call the Public Works Department at 847-6635 to register as a volunteer. 

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