HOUSTON, April 25, 2011 - Walgreens (NYSE, NASDAQ: WAG) customers have helped keep more than 15,000 pounds of unused or expired medications out of landfills through the Safe Medication Disposal Program. The drugstore retailer, working with Sharps Compliance Corp. (NASDAQ: SMED), a leading full-service provider of medical waste and unused medication management, offers specially-designed and U. S. Postal Service-approved envelopes that allow customers to place, seal and mail prescription or over-the-counter medications they no longer use to a facility for proper treatment. The program, which launched last September, has provided thousands of Americans with an eco-friendly alternative for medication disposal.
Customers can purchase Safe Medication Disposal Program envelopes at any Walgreens for $3.99. Controlled substances are excluded from this program due to current regulations. Postage is included in the cost of the envelope. Once securely sealed, the envelope can be dropped into any U.S. Postal Service mailbox where it will be sent to the Sharps Compliance facility for treatment. The envelopes are never opened, and licensed law enforcement personnel are onsite during processing to ensure safety and compliance.
“We are encouraged that many of our patients have taken advantage of this medication disposal opportunity,” said Walgreens vice president of pharmacy operations Richard Ashworth. “We’ve heard great feedback about this new program from those customers. In addition to the environmental benefits, it addresses a common safety concern in communities. Customers are pleased to have a solution that allows them to be environmentally responsible and keep medications out of unintended hands with convenience and ease.”
“We estimate that more than 200 million pounds of unused dispensed medications are disposed of improperly each year,” said David P. Tusa, President & CEO of Sharps Compliance. “We congratulate Walgreens customers and hope awareness of this program continues to grow. Through this program, we’re one step closer to addressing growing consumer concerns over responsibly and safely disposing of medications.”
Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) is the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2010 sales of $67 billion. The company operates 7,697 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Each day, Walgreens provides nearly 6 million customers the most convenient, multi-channel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice in communities across America. Walgreens scope of pharmacy services includes retail, specialty, infusion, medical facility and mail service, along with respiratory services. These services improve health outcomes and lower costs for payers including employers, managed care organizations, health systems, pharmacy benefit managers and the public sector. Take Care Health Systems is a Walgreens subsidiary that is the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health centers and in-store convenient care clinics, with more than 700 locations throughout the country.
Sharps Compliance Corp. (www.sharpsinc.com) is a leading full-service provider of cost-effective management solutions for medical waste and unused dispensed medications generated outside the hospital and large healthcare facility setting. Sharps is targeting what it believes to be an estimated $2 billion market and address the following markets: Retail pharmacy, U.S. government, pharmaceutical manufacturers, home healthcare providers, assisted living facilities and clinics, and professional offices including physicians, dentists, veterinary and other healthcare related practices.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6694755&lang=en
Media Contacts
Walgreens:
Vivika Vergara, 847.315.2923
vivika.vergara@walgreens.com
or
For Sharps Compliance:
Suzy Ginsburg, 713.334.2357
suzy@gcomworks.com