Electricity Generated from Waste Pharmaceuticals

Waste Medicines Thrown into Containers Converted to Electrical Energy Electrical energy was produced from medicines collected through the "Waste Medicine Container Project" launched at Erzurum Atatürk University. Director of Atatürk University Environmental Problems Application and Research Centre Prof. Dr. Zeynep Ceylan: "Our 4 tonnes of waste medicine was incinerated and converted into electrical energy. A second 4-tonne container is currently being filled. In this way, we are protecting our ecosystem and nature from waste medicine, which is an extremely toxic waste." "The ecosystem can no longer tolerate any toxic substance it receives; it sends it back to us. These should never be disposed of in sinks and garbage bins." ERZURUM (AA) - İSMAİL HAKKI DEMİR - Electrical energy was produced from medicines collected through the "Waste Medicine Container Project" launched at Erzurum Atatürk University. Students from the Department of Environmental Engineering at the Engineering Faculty of Atatürk University initiated work within the scope of their undergraduate thesis to control waste medicines, which are a significant environmental problem, without harming the environment and human health. Students who implemented the Waste Medicine Container Project placed containers at 5 different points on the university campus at a depth of 2 metres. Waste disposed of here was collected and sent to a recycling facility. From 4 tonnes of waste medicine obtained through recycling, 1,767 kilowatts of electrical energy was generated. With the waste medicine containers, the project is planned to be expanded throughout the city to ensure that harmful substances are controlled without affecting the environment and people. Prof. Dr. Zeynep Ceylan, Faculty Member and Director of the Environmental Problems Application and Research Centre, told the AA correspondent that the "Waste Medicine Container Project" implemented to prevent hazardous waste medicines from harming the environment and human health has reached an important stage after 3 years of work. Drawing attention to the fact that medicine collection is performed in different parts of Turkey but is not sustainable, Ceylan stated that they have been installing containers since October 2018, that special bags are inside them, that they are lifted using cranes as these bags are filled, and that waste medicines are collected in these bags which have a 40-year sealing guarantee.

"After three years of ongoing work, we are expanding throughout the city"

Stating that they collect medicines at an Interim Storage Facility in Ankara accredited by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanism and Climate Change, Ceylan said that collection activities continue with the support of a company that covers half of the shipping costs. Noting that they have placed waste containers at 5 high-density population points, Ceylan continued as follows: "After three years of ongoing work, we are expanding throughout the city. Our Metropolitan Municipality will also support this work. Sustainable management of waste medicines in Turkey is being carried out only at our university. There are collectors, but we operate very systematically, opening the container three times a year when it fills. One 4-tonne container has been filled. We send it to İZAYDAŞ (Izmit Waste and Residue Treatment, Incineration and Recovery Inc.). Our 4 tonnes of waste medicine was incinerated and converted into electrical energy. Currently, a second 4-tonne container is filling. In this way, we are protecting our ecosystem and nature from waste medicine, which is an extremely toxic waste." Ceylan emphasized that the filling of waste containers is accelerating, that they provide training seminars on the subject, and that they have created significant awareness by providing training everywhere from schools to institutions, both online and in person.

"The ecosystem can no longer tolerate any toxic substance it receives"

Drawing attention to the fact that the statement "Expired medicines are waste medicines" is an incomplete definition, Ceylan noted that medicines not stored under appropriate conditions are also waste medicines. Using the expression "A medicine does not need to have passed its expiry date to be classified as waste medicine," Ceylan emphasized that all medicines not stored under appropriate conditions will be evaluated as waste because they may have toxic effects on people who use them. Prof. Dr. Zeynep Ceylan stated the following: "Currently, our citizens generally put expired medicines in bags and throw them in the garbage or pour them down the sink. Whether they are poured down the sink and toilet or thrown in the garbage, they go into this ecosystem. These are extremely toxic and organic waste. What happens? The ecosystem can no longer tolerate any toxic substance; it sends it back to us. These should never be disposed of in sinks and garbage bins. They can dispose of them in containers, a service we have brought to their doorstep."