[Pharmwaste] RE: Trash Disposal of Pharmaceuticals (Contents of Pharmwaste di gest, Vol 1 #80 - 2 msgs)

Thu, 30 Jun 2005 08:41:27 -0500

Thank you, Ann, for the citation. Yes, pharmaceuticals are organic
chemicals. When you mention emission controls for the pharma industry,
are you referring to the manufacturers running their own incinerators? I
believe many of those have shut down. It is my understanding that RCRA
incinerators are well scrubbed and monitored. Waste to energy plants and
other municipal incinerators I believe need to meet certain emissions
criteria to accept non-hazardous pharmaceutical waste. I believe there
is a great deal more variance there. Of course, they may be getting
small amounts of drugs in consumer waste. Anyone else have comments on
the relative benefits of incineration vs. landfilling?=20

Charlotte A. Smith, R. Ph., M.S., HEM
President
PharmEcology Associates, LLC
200 S. Executive Drive, Suite 101
Brookfield, WI 53005
262-814-2635
Fax 414-479-9941
www.pharmecology.com
H2E Champion for Change Award

-----Original Message-----
From: Pistell, Ann E [mailto:Ann.E.Pistell@maine.gov]=20
Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2005 7:37 AM
To: 'pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us'; 'dwyatt@centralsan.dst.ca.us'
Subject: [Pharmwaste] RE: Trash Disposal of Pharmaceuticals (Contents of
Pharmwaste di gest, Vol 1 #80 - 2 msgs)

 The bottom line is this - all landfills eventually leak. The more
sophisticated one have leachate collection, which goes to a treatment
plant and is eventually discharged to a receiving water or bulked into
sludge which may then be land spread on crop land.  We all know that
treatment plants in the US, for the most part, do not have the processes
to capture the pharmaceuticals. =20

An interesting article on this appears in "Ground Water Monitoring and
Remediation 24, No.2/Spring 2004, pages 119-126.  Title is
"Pharmaceuticals and Other Organic Waste Water Contaminants Within a
Leachate Plume Downgradient of a Municipal Landfill" K. Barnes, S.
Christenson et.al.

I am sure there are other articles on this if one goes looking.  The
data that may be sorely lacking is on air emissions - although I haven't
dug deep for it. I am concerned about cross-media transfer, that by
burning we may be adding stuff to the air or the ash.  I think the
general feeling is that by burning, the organics break down to harmless
components, but I would like to see where that has been confirmed.  And,
I am no expert nor chemist, but are some pharmaceuticals not (basically)
organics???=20

Lastly, I know EPA has set emission limits for the pharmaceutical
industry which one would hope is based on stack tests etc., sound
science.  Anyone looked at these?

Ann Pistell
Me DEP

Today's Topics:

   1. FW: Trash Disposal of Pharmaceuticals (Charlotte A. Smith)
   2. RE: FW: Trash Disposal of Pharmaceuticals (Volkman, Jennifer)

Date: Wed, 29 Jun 2005 11:50:42 -0500
From: "Charlotte A. Smith" <csmith@pharmecology.com>
To: <pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us>
Subject: [Pharmwaste] FW: Trash Disposal of Pharmaceuticals

Can anyone provide more information on landfill restrictions and why
hazardous waste incineration is a better solution environmentally at
this point?  Thanks much!=3D20

Charlotte A. Smith, R. Ph., M.S., HEM
President
PharmEcology Associates, LLC
200 S. Executive Drive, Suite 101
Brookfield, WI 53005
262-814-2635
Fax 414-479-9941
www.pharmecology.com
H2E Champion for Change Award

-----Original Message-----
From: David Wyatt [mailto:DWYATT@centralsan.dst.ca.us]=3D20
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2005 5:03 PM
To: Charlotte A. Smith
Subject: Trash Disposal of Pharmaceuticals

Good afternoon,

My name is David Wyatt and I am with the Central Contra Costa Sanitary
District (you will be speaking at a workshop here on the 19th of July).
I am a Senior Technician at the Districts household hazardous waste
collection facility (HHWCF).  We are looking for some information on the
effects of pharmaceuticals thrown in the trash.

We currently collect pharmaceuticals from households in our service area
at our HHWCF.  The medications are packaged with poisonous materials and
sent for incineration.  The cost of this waste stream is relatively
inexpensive with respect to the rest of our waste costs.

I've been asked to find out why our residents cannot just throw them in
the trash as mentioned in many reports.  Do you know of any publications
that could provide us with information on the potential effects of
pharmaceuticals to sanitary landfills or do you know any other reasons
why residents should not put them in the trash?=3D20

We at the HHWCF feel accepting medications at our facility is the best
and only method of proper disposal of household pharmaceuticals.  We
only need to educate some of our management to see it that way.

Any and all information will be greatly appreciated.  You may reply to
this email or give me a call at (925)335-7714.

Thank you for your time. Have a great day!

David Wyatt
Sr. HHW Technician
Central Contra Costa=3D20
Sanitary District - HHWCF
5019 Imhoff Place
Martinez, CA 94553
Ph.  925-335-7714
Fax  925-335-7737
dwyatt@centralsan.dst.ca.us
www.centralsan.org

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Message: 2
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] FW: Trash Disposal of Pharmaceuticals
Date: Wed, 29 Jun 2005 17:50:51 -0500
From: "Volkman, Jennifer" <Jennifer.Volkman@state.mn.us>
To: "Charlotte A. Smith" <csmith@pharmecology.com>,
	<pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us>

In MN, we don't have a landfill restriction or ban on pharms.

We'd be interested in actual study data.  The basic concern from our SW
=3D people here is that the pharms would eventually leach through the =
=3D
garbage and show up in the leachate which is eventually run through the
=3D same WWTP we were trying to keep it out of, or that the landfill =
would
=3D eventually leak and the pharms would move into groundwater. =3D20

With the lack of hard data, leachate contamination is only assumed, as =
=3D
is the relative ability of a landfill to attenuate or absorb pharms. =3D
Incineration appears to be the best option for destruction, as with any
=3D other poison. =3D20

-----Original Message-----
From: pharmwaste-admin@lists.dep.state.fl.us
[mailto:pharmwaste-admin@lists.dep.state.fl.us]On Behalf Of Charlotte A.
Smith
Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2005 11:51 AM
To: pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: [Pharmwaste] FW: Trash Disposal of Pharmaceuticals