Health board discusses drug disposal, securing trash

The Flathead County Board of Health discussed efforts to secure trash in vehicles and legal disposal of medications at its May meeting on Thursday.

Mayre Flowers of Citizens for a Better Flathead, who is the project director of WasteNot, requested and the board approved $500 to help support Operation Medicine Cabinet on Saturday, May 21.

The event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. provides two locations — in the health department’s north parking lot (1035 First Ave. W. in Kalispell) and North Valley Hospital parking lot — for citizens to bring leftover prescription medications for disposal.

The collection event is geared to prevent abuse of prescription drugs and improper disposal of drugs that contaminate the water supply.

Operation Medicine Cabinet seeks to raise awareness that flushing or pouring unwanted household medications down drains for disposal is no longer an acceptable practice.

Flowers said the county contribution was needed to help pay for posters, brochures and advertising.

She provided a letter that listed other contributors as North Valley Hospital ($250), Trout Unlimited ($100) and Flathead County Solid Waste ($300). Answering board questions, she said she had not approached Kalispell Regional Medical Center for a donation.

Flowers said she had not asked local pharmacies for donations because she made an extensive effort last year but only Sykes’ Pharmacy had contributed.

Dave Prunty, Flathead County public works director, said the staff disposes of the medications by mixing them with latex paint and bentonite to form a clay plug for burial in the landfill. He said the  plug represents the best method available here.

“We’ve destroyed them and know nobody is going to get their hands on them,” he said. “The pills go quickly.”

He said the plug does not break down for many years because it lacks organics.

Also at the meeting, Prunty provided an update on efforts to reduce trash that frequently flies out of vehicles. Health Board member Dr. Wayne Miller, also a solid waste board member, has spent months championing enforcement of county ordinance 8.

The ordinance calls for fines up to $200 for throwing, depositing or causing litter to be left on any road or land in Flathead County.

The fine also applies to hauling trash to the landfill or container sites “without containing, covering or otherwise controlling the load such that no garbage or trash may blow or fall from the vehicle.”

Prunty said the department has an educational billboard up and is seeking a site for another, preferably in the middle of the valley on U.S. 2. The first was put up on U.S. 93 South.

All container sites have warning signs now except one in the canyon near Essex. 

Prunty told board members that a meeting was held with Flathead County Undersheriff Jordan White who asked for pamphlets for deputies to use during a period of education before ticketing unsecured loads.

He said White did not indicate how soon ticketing would begin but Prunty felt an effort would occur.

“All three of us at the meeting came away with a good feeling,” Prunty said.

In response to questions by board members, he said a sign was up at the landfill and they discussed with Jordan using the camera system there to help catch violators. Eventually, he said, a deputy would be available to write tickets at the landfill and green box sites.

According to Prunty, Jordan said he needs to go to his sergeants to figure out a way to put the manpower into enforcing covered/secured load requirements.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com .