[Pharmwaste] Updates to the Fish & Wildlife SMARxT Disposal website

[Catherine Zimmer]

Hi all,
While I do applaud FWS and partners on the SMARxT website, I've been 
disappointed by their lack of answers to my questions regarding source 
reduction of pharmaceutical waste.  I specifically asked the contacts at 
Pharma, FWS and APhA what they were doing to minimize the waste and only 
received a somewhat oblique response from FWS. 

We know that SMARxT and collections are only a stop gap solution to the 
problem.  So, we stop medications from being disposed down the drain.  
When pharmaceuticals are landfilled, the landfill leachate still goes to 
the wastewater plant, where again, it is likely untreated.  Incinerated 
pharmaceuticals use energy and contribute to air pollution.  The likely 
largest source is excretion--which isn't collected at SMARxT.  Bottom 
line, we need source reduction solutions; like improved health, 
alternative therapies to solve our aches and pains, targeted dosage 
forms, reduced prescription sizes, trial doses and the like.   We need 
some product stewardship on the part of Pharma, APhA and others. 
 

Catherine Zimmer
Health Care Specialist

Minnesota Technical Assistance Program
University of Minnesota
612.624.4635, 800.247.0015
http://www.mntap.umn.edu

Helping Minnesota businesses maximize resource efficiency, increase energy efficiency, reduce costs, and prevent pollution



DeBiasi,Deborah wrote:
> An update from F & W on the SMARxT Disposal website at
> http://www.smarxtdisposal.net/   
>
> ***********
> Thank you for your interest in supporting SMARxT Disposal.
>
> We have made some additions to the SMARxT Disposal website:
>
> 1) Added electronic files for a magnet and poster.  All files are being
> posted in pdf format.  In most cases, this format should be fine for
> printing high-quality materials.  However, if you would like to produce
> a full-size poster, you will need to contact us and request a cd with
> the poster files.  The size of these electronic files made posting them
> to the website prohibitive.  Also, if you need any of the electronic
> files in a different format, please feel free to contact us.
>
> 2) Expanded the "Common Questions" page.  We have added responses to
> several questions we have received via email.  We are working on
> developing responses to several other questions and hope to post them in
> the next few weeks.
>
> We will continue to send you emails to keep you up-to-date on our SMARxT
> Disposal efforts.  
>
> Sincerely, Kelly M Geer
>
>
> Kelly Geer
> Wildlife Biologist/Outreach Specialist
> U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
> Division of Environmental Quality
> kelly_geer at fws.gov
>
> *********
>
> Deborah L. DeBiasi
> Email:   dldebiasi at deq.virginia.gov
> WEB site address:  www.deq.virginia.gov
> Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
> Office of Water Permit Programs
> Industrial Pretreatment/Toxics Management Program
> PPCPs, EDCs, and Microconstituents
> Mail:          P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA  23218 (NEW!)
> Location:  629 E. Main Street, Richmond, VA  23219
> PH:         804-698-4028
> FAX:      804-698-4032
>
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>