Discarding properly an expired or unused medicine is already a reality in some pharmacies in Toledo. Through Conscientious Drug Disposal project, which has been developed by Prati-Donaduzzi Pharmaceutical Industry since 2014, consumers can properly discard ointments, tablets, liquids, sprays, boxes and package inserts of drugs in collectors that were installed in nine specific points in the city. It is not allowed to discard needles, syringes and other sharps.
The collection boxes are disposable and made of cardboard, identified by Prati-Donaduzzi logo to make the access easier. "We developed this project because most people do not know the risk of  discarding drugs in the trash or elsewhere. This can cause serious harm for people and the environment. Through this pilot project, we encourage people to dispose consciously medicines in specific collectors for that purpose”, explains Prati-Donaduzzi environmental technician, Faneza de Oliveira.
The Drug Reverse Logistics project provides that manufacturers and record holders are responsible for the dissemination, training of employees where the points of collection are located, transportation and incineration of the collected materials. A third party company collects waste in fixed points once a month. "Since the beginning of the project more than 350 kilograms of expired and unused products have been already incinerated in the city of Toledo," said Faneza.

Collection Points
The expired or unused drugs can be discarded in the partner pharmacies of the project, located in the following neighborhoods: Downtown, Jardim Porto Alegre, Jardim Gisela, Jardim Panorama  and Jardim Coopagro.
One of the first collection points installed was at Santo Antonio Pharmacy on Jardim Coopagro. According to pharmacist Veridiana Lazarin, many consumers have already separated drugs at home and taken them to discard in the collector. "People have accepted very well the idea and have created the habit of discarding medicines here in the pharmacy. In addition, we also advice those ones who do not know the project to be aware and start to make disposal in the collector”, she emphasizes.

Smart Disposal
Prati-Donaduzzi is one of the four companies in Paraná to take part in the Smart Disposal Project of the Union of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industries of Paraná State (Singfar) and in the State Environmental Department. The pioneering project in the country provides for the installation of collection points of expired and unused drugs in pharmacies in Curitiba, Colombo and Toledo.
Reverse logistics of drugs is the result of Federal Law No. 12,305 / 2010 and Decree No. 7,404 / 2010 (National Policy on Solid Waste), and the State Law No. 17,211 / 2012, Decree 9,213 / 2013 (unused drug disposal accountability) and Calling Notice No. 01/2012.