A program for unused medications

It’s not uncommon to keep a few boxes of medication—some unfinished, and sometimes even unopened—in a box, drawer, or medicine cabinet. This raises the question of whether it’s worth keeping them. However, how should they be disposed of properly? In Saint-Barthélemy, for just over six years now and with the cooperation of the island’s three pharmacies, the eco-organization Cyclamed has been handling the collection.
On Saturday, June 6, the Paprec Énergies site at the Ouanalao Environnement eco-park in Public opened its doors to the public throughout the morning. Visitors were able to explore all the waste treatment areas and learn about Cyclamed’s mission from its representative in Guadeloupe, Saint Martin, and Saint Barth, Christelle Diochot Despois.
Since 1993, the government-approved eco-organization Cyclamed has managed the national system for the collection and recycling of unused human medications (MNU). Locally, Christelle Diochot Despois carries out advocacy and awareness-raising efforts and ensures that the system complies with regulatory standards. “Pharmacies must collect the medications, provided they are separated from their boxes and package inserts,” explains Cyclamed’s “facilitator.” “These can be used, expired, opened, or unused medicines—tablets, syrups, suppositories, inhalers, ointments, etc.”
It is up to the individual to sort the medications before placing them in a designated box at the pharmacy. The box is then collected by a service provider and taken to the Ouanalao Environnement site to be incinerated. Christelle Diochot Despois assures us that the collected medications go nowhere else, regardless of whether the expiration date has passed or not. “Once a medication is given to someone and leaves the pharmacy, it is no longer in a secure environment,” explains the Cyclamed representative. “Incineration is therefore essential for public health and safety reasons.”
Consequently, for those who wish to clear out excess items from their medicine cabinets, all they need to do is sort through their medications and then drop them off in a collection box at one of the island’s three pharmacies.