[Pharmwaste] Pharmwaste Digest, Vol. 6, Issue 3 (RE: Non-incinerationtechniques fro treatingRx expired products)

gressitt gressitt at uninets.net
Sat May 6 10:01:21 EDT 2006


Matthew thanks for this. I had a small chart that I was looking to expand to
provide a "taxonomy" of different methods. It is pretty simple, but could be
perhaps useful if expanded. 

I think most of the examples you gave would likely fit into the Occasional
category? It seems that the examples you gave might be included as examples
in another column.

 

Stevan Gressitt

 

 


Category

Example

Status

Disposal process

 


Mail

Maine legislation

pending

MDEA subcontract

 


Single event

TRIAD Take back

ongoing

Local Police sub ontract

 


Occasional

Quarterly 

PEI

Environmental Agency

 


Persistent, consistent 

RUM, BC, UK, Finland

ongoing

Various

 

 

 

  _____  

From: McCarron, Matthew [mailto:MMcCarro at CIWMB.ca.gov] 
Sent: Friday, May 05, 2006 12:54 PM
To: ilene.ruhoy at unlv.edu; 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)

 

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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