[Pharmwaste] Pharmwaste Digest, Vol. 6,
Issue 3 (RE: Non-incinerationtechniques fro
treatingRx expired products)
McCarron, Matthew
MMcCarro at CIWMB.ca.gov
Fri May 5 12:53:38 EDT 2006
There are some collection models to look at besides the HHW drop off.
HHW drop off is in different levels of maturity through out the country,
people take medications with them everywhere, but not household toxics.
For the target audience of pharm waste, convenience is key. HHW drop-
off is rarely convenient, except to the operators for costs and
management reasons. These facilities on average serve 4% of the local
population. Studies have shown that if a resident is more than 3 miles
away from a facility, they are not likely to participate. A very well
run curbside HHW program will hit 16% of the their population. Multi
-family dwellings pose addition management issues.
Here are some other collection models, that have the same ubiquitous use
and access as Pharmaceutical products:
1) Small Household batteries have a voluntary disposal system set up by
one of the "For Profit" processors of these batteries. It is called the
Big Green Box, with the idea that people can drop off at any location
and they are mailed to a location that is authorized to treat them and
manage the residuals properly. This can be done by retailers, business,
government and the HHW groups. But they pay for the service. The cost
can be subsidized or passed on to the consumers. There is a consortium
of manufactures that take back all the rechargeable batteries call RBRC
and pay for the recycling of these, but they account for less than 10%
of the household battery sales.
2) Cell Phones in California starting 7/1/06, if you sell them you must
take them back. If you sell over the internet you must provide a return
box for the old phone. The Cell phone manufacturer also have set up the
Wireless Foundation to recycle old cell phones, and they take them for
free. These costs will also be passed to consumers.
3) There are manufacturer take back programs for electronics in Maine
and in 2009 in Washington.
4) The Advanced Disposal fee or CRV system for bottles, cans, oil, tires
and TVs and computer monitors in California is another method. There is
widespread fraud in the recycling claims in these programs. These are
government run programs that authorized collection networks for those
materials. The lowest overhead rate for these programs is about 20% of
the fees collected. The manufacturers of these materials could do
better, but most don't want the cost and responsibility and would rather
defer to the government.
5) There are returnable container programs for pesticides, beer kegs
and bottles, milk bottles (old school throw back, but growing with
Organic milks) and propane tanks. These programs are operated by the
the manufacturers or bottling companies.
Once you collected the material, then what is the best course? This
question needs to be decided for each situation in concert with the
collection method. Each handling method raises security and safety
issues to be addressed. Dumping medication into a barrel of diesel and
sending for fuel blending is certainly a cheap and easy (in some states)
solution. This method poses other problems for regulated materials mixed
with non-regulated, transportation distance to fuel blending facilities,
and quality of incinerators processing this material.
Certainly a national approach will bring the most awareness and
consistency to proper management of this material.
Matt McCarron
California Integrated Waste Management Board
________________________________
From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us
[mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of
ilene.ruhoy at unlv.edu
Sent: Friday, May 05, 2006 7:54 AM
To: gressitt
Cc: 'Bill Lewry'; pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] Pharmwaste Digest, Vol. 6,Issue 3 (RE:
Non-incinerationtechniques fro treatingRx expired products)
Before the decision to recycle or incinerate, we have to GET the drugs.
Having said that, I understand the dangerous complexities regarding the
collection of narcotics and other highly desireable substances. Yet,
there are many jobs in this country that we would consider "dangerous".
There are precautions that can be put in place. Obviously, the "guard"
cannot have access to the box. Patroled stop added to police roster. The
box should be almost impenetrable. The box should be easily accessible
and in a place where it is well lit with a lot of pedestrian traffic -
pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, health district offices, police
stations, etc. Collection by reverse distributors would have to be often
to decrease the amount of accumulation. Perhaps some cameras as in gas
stations and cabs. Heavy marketing as a public service. Etc.
Whats to stop Curly from holding up MDs and PharmDs, etc.?
Ilene Ruhoy, MD
702-339-8370
"gressitt" <gressitt at uninets.net>
Sent by: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us
05/04/2006 19:54 AST
To: "'Bill Lewry'" <Bill_Lewry at kcmo.org>,
<pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us>
cc:
bcc:
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] Pharmwaste Digest, Vol. 6,Issue 3 (RE:
Non-incineration techniques fro treatingRxexpiredproducts)
I appreciate the simplicity of the structure.
Just for a minute could I consult with my two buddies out in the waiting
room named, anonymously, Larry and Curly, Moe was sick today and
couldn't make it even to the office. ( Doesn't that actually sound like
a good reason to see a doctor?)
Larry has a new .38 and Curly has this newfangled thing called a Kimber
.45. They both have a shortage of oxycontin and have been dumpster
diving outside MD offices lately. Unsuccessfully. The "Anytown Village
Press" has just announced that HHW is going to have a Take-Back and they
are very very thirsty. Time for some target practice? Moe might even be
healthy by Saturday and he has a Beretta.
Here is their offer to the HHW folks on the scheduled date and time: "We
will take care of your waste problem, just give us the box." ( They
were grinning.)
Oh yes, Moe regained health miraculously and also had a mini-14.
Your reply?
Stevan Gressitt, M.D.
207-441-0291
________________________________
From:Bill Lewry [mailto:Bill_Lewry at kcmo.org]
Sent: Saturday, April 15, 2006 12:14 PM
To: Stevan Gressitt; pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] Pharmwaste Digest, Vol. 6, Issue 3 (RE:
Non-incineration techniques fro treatingRx expired products)
To All:
The interest seems high, the solution is appearing simple under the
existing framework if municipalities and states should so choose.
Return it through HHW's (household hazardous waste Facilities.
How: ??
Relatively simply:
* Affiliate HHW facilities with law enforcement agencies, either
at local, county, state or federal level. (considering what they handle
- they should be as matter of course??)
* Have them contract with a DEA permitted incinerator, or...
* By default, mixing with drum labelled D001 - flammable liquid,
NOS - consider the item destroyed in the blending process. It could then
be used as a fuel. DEA has the latitude to make this determination
should it so choose, as would local states or courts.
Problem solved. To not use the simple, readily available and functional
would seem to create additional costs and issues for the public at large
and call into question the reasoning of those creating yet another
burdensome hoop for citizens at large. (pharmacies could even collect
and a milk run be set up whereby the pharmacies could pay a nominal fee
(part of the cost of doing business) for disposal services.
"Stevan Gressitt" <gressitt at uninets.net>
"Stevan Gressitt" <gressitt at uninets.net>
Sent by: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us
04/13/2006 08:06 PM
To
"'Jim Todd'" <jim at wastenotwashington.org>,
<pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us>
cc
Subject
RE: [Pharmwaste] Pharmwaste Digest, Vol. 6, Issue 3 (RE:
Non-incineration techniques fro treatingRx expired products)
I am interested as well. What happened to the incinerator permit for
Northern California? Stevan Gressitt, M.D.
-----Original Message-----
From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us
[mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Jim Todd
Sent: Wednesday, April 12, 2006 1:48 PM
To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: [Pharmwaste] Pharmwaste Digest, Vol. 6,Issue 3 (RE:
Non-incineration techniques fro treatingRx expired products)
I share Ahmed Hamza's interest in non-incineration technologies for
disposing of unwanted pharmaceuticals. Recycling of plastic medicine
containers, etc. is also of interest.
I would very much appreciate learning about the list serve mentioned by
Charlotte A. Smith.
Jim Todd
Project Manager
Pharmaceuticals Take-Back Project
***********************
WA Citizens for Resource Conservation
http://wastenotwashington.org/
2021 3rd Ave
Seattle, WA98121
206.441.1791
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