Did you know that nearly 70 percent of Americans take at least one prescription drug, and more than half take two? That’s a lot of empty pill bottles when the medication is gone. While some of these bottles are recycled or reused, many of them end up in landfills.
One group is working to change that. Cincinnati-based Matthew 25: Ministries, an international aid and disaster-relief organization, accepts donations of empty plastic pill bottles that are either sent to places where medical supplies are needed or are shredded and recycled. "Our pill bottle program fulfills the dual needs of improving medical care in developing countries and caring for our environment."
Pill Bottles to the Rescue
Many times, the pills people receive in developing countries are wrapped in paper scraps. They have no protection from moisture or the elements. And they certainly are not safely out of the reach of small children—you can’t really safety-proof a piece of paper. Those orange pill bottles we take for granted are gratefully received in many parts of the world.
Matthew 25: Ministries accepts the following:
Prescription and over-the-counter pill bottles
Large and small pill bottles (with or without child-resistant caps)
Make a Donation
The next time you find yourself taking medication, save the bottle—don’t toss it! Before sending it off, remove the label. (Submerge the bottle in a pot of boiling water if it doesn’t easily peel off. If there’s still a little sticky residue on the bottle, lemon essential oil will easily remove it.)
When you’re ready, ship your bottle(s) off to:
Matthew 25: Ministries
11060 Kenwood Road
Cincinnati, OH 45242
That’s it! You just made a difference and kept plastic out of our landfills.
"People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone." - Audrey Hepburn