The Clinical Waste Discussion Forum generally supports the US concept of community collections of unwanted pharmaceuticals and related hazardous household wastes and, unique to US where no better system exists, of used needles from diabetics and others who may self-medicate.

Certainly for the collection of unwanted pharmaceuticals the schemes are invaluable. held every 3 or 6 months and administered by the local authority, the Police or Fire department – a particularly US way of doing things! – they can net huge amounts of unwanted pharmaceutical waste and ensure its correct disposal.

It would be important to ‘sell’ the idea to residents, to create an accessible collection point at a library or town hall etc, and ensure a welcome smile, and a thank you to support all of the prior advertising that alerts residents to the collection day.

Sadly, the hard sell can sometimes go off the rails. This report from a local scheme operated in Grafton, Massachusetts, is accompanied by a most off-putting photo. The policeman – does he look like he could run after and catch a crook? – does not exactly look engaged in the process. And what is the camera for?

If community collections are going to be effective, it is necessary to engage with and encourage the community. This photograph seems to be the antithesis of community engagement. All that is missing is the gun!