[Pharmwaste] Starting a take-back program

[Marta Keane]

Michelle,
I started a pharmaceutical take-back last year. The Illinois-EPA offered funding sponsorship and we designed the program to take medications from the public at pharmacies where technicians could identify controlled substances from non-controlled. We worked closely with our EPA to meet the DEA restrictions.  You may see our brochure at:
http://www.willcountylanduse.com/WasteServ/Events/Pharm%20Take-Back%20100307.pdf
 
The Illinois EPA has provided collection/disposal funding to several counties in Illinois.  Will County is 849 square miles with nearly 700,000 residents and we want to add more drop-off locations.  At least one other county that is working with the Illinois-EPA is taking back all pharmaceuticals through a municipal police department.  The police department is charged with the disposal of the narcotic medications.
 
I suggest you contact your regional EPA office and your county to see if a program that meets the DEA regulations can be created.  It would be a shame to lose your grant when there are ways to create this program.
 
Marta Keane, Recycling Program Specialist 
Will County Land Use - Waste Services 
58 E. Clinton Street, Suite 500 
Joliet, IL  60432 
815-774-4343 
mkeane at willcountylanduse.com 
Recycle at home and at work! 
  

-----Original Message-----
From: Lauer, Michelle [mailto:MLauer at Christianacare.org]
Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2008 9:11 AM
To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: [Pharmwaste] Starting a take-back program



Hello: 
         I am new to the list-serve and on the environmental stewardship committee of my hospital. Recently, we received a grant from DNREC to start a medication take back program for the community and planned to do so at three out-patient hospital pharmacies. The plan is to purchase secure, locked bins and for the public to come during pharmacy hours and dispose of meds. We did not want to exclude controlled substances, as there would really be no one continuously monitoring what was dropped in the bins, and of course, we want to collect as much as possible in order to divert from going down the drain. The DEA has stepped in, with controlled substance act in hand, and said "NO" -  stating that even if we said, "No controlled substances" the public would not be able to distinguish and therefore not an option. Also, that controlled substances cannot be returned to a 'registrant', although no one in the pharmacy would be handling the meds. 

        I am seeking any advice regarding moving forward with our program. How have other systems or communities navigated this roadblock? Also, what, if anything, is being done at this time to amend the controlled substance act? What is the role of the EPA in interfacing with the DEA to advocate for providing waivers in order to decrease the introduction of all pharmaceuticals into water? 

Thanks! 

Michelle Lauer, RN, BSN, BC 
Patient Care Coordinator - Psychiatry 
428-2117 or pager # 884-9440 



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