Keep Oklahoma Beautiful presents its “Towering Spirit Award” to the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Tulsa’s Covanta Trash to Energy plant. The giant incinerator has been burning unwanted prescriptions. Covanta’s Matt Newman is pleased with the public/private partnership.
MATT NEWMAN: “It is an honor for the Covanta Tulsa Renewable Energy facility to provide this valuable service to the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics’ “Safe Trip for Scripts” program and the citizens of Oklahoma. We hope the Towering Spirit Award draws positive attention to the solution provided by our partnership with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics. Energy-from-Waste facilities like Covanta Tulsa Renewable Energy provide a safe way to dispose of unwanted medications, while producing clean energy. Our facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art combustion controls and air pollution control equipment to ensure the destruction of these drugs in an environmentally sound manner, one that protects the water we depend upon day in and day out and ensures that unwanted drugs are not available for abuse.”
OBN Chief Darrell Weaver says 81% of the drug overdose deaths in Oklahoma are tied to prescription drugs.
Darrell Weaver: "Prescription drug abuse is a "silent cancer" in Oklahoma with 81% of the drug overdose deaths in our state tied to prescription drugs. Simply put, our citizens are dying and it's unacceptable. The partnership with Covanta Energy is a win-win-win; the drugs are converted into renewable energy, this service does not cost the citizens of Oklahoma and the pharmaceuticals are destroyed. This is a good example of a public/private partnership. This program has had a significant impact on this troubling problem. If we save one citizen’s life then the effort will be worth it."