The Environmental Advocates of McDonough County (EAMC) and the Macomb High School Ecology Club have joined forces to bring Matthew 25 Ministries pill bottle donations to Macomb. The Ecology Club will be sponsoring a pilot program this month.
The program is only part of the Matthew 25 Ministries program, which is an international humanitarian aid and disaster relief organization. The Ecology Club will collect prescription bottles, which will be used to distribute medications in developing countries where prescriptions are needed. Matthew 25 accepts donations of clean, empty, recapped, label and residue free, prescription pill bottles for inclusion in shipments of medical supplies. Their program fulfills a dual need for improving medical care in developing countries and caring for our environment by reducing plastics in landfills.
The Ecology Club will be collecting prescription bottles through February 27th as a trial run to test interest. They have advertised the program by sending out electronic messages to all Macomb High School students, parents, staff members, the school newsletter, and by posting a large sign in a visible, high traffic area at MHS. These bottles are not accepted by standard residential recycling programs, so accept prescription bottles for reuse, they must fit the following criteria: plastic (any # is fine) with plastic lids (can be child-resistant or easy-open). Contributors are encouraged to remove the label(s) before dropping the bottles off for recycling. If you are interested in helping with this pilot program and know an MHS student, contact them. Empty RX pill bottles may be dropped off at Mr. Risley's room (room 105) by students through Friday, February 27th. MHS Ecology club students will periodically collect and clean the bottles. The bottles will then be packaged by the EAMC and mailed to Matthew 25.
The Ecology Club and EAMC thank you for your help with this service project.
