[Pharmwaste] FW: appropriate disposal of expired drugs

zimme053 at umn.edu zimme053 at umn.edu
Tue Oct 7 09:39:10 EDT 2008


Hi Laurie, Charlotte and all,
In MN, the MN Pollution Control Agency, who writes the permits for 
wastewater treatment plants (aka POTW) , advised all the plants to not 
accept pharmaceuticals. Because most pharmaceuticals pass through the plant 
directly into surface waters, by accepting them, the POTW could be 
violating the terms of their permits.

For management, they have a few options: manage as hazardous waste (most 
compliant), manage as medical waste and send to incinerator, manage as 
solid waste (if they have an incinerator) or take to a Very Small Quantity 
Generator collection or household HW collection site I know they are not 
generally wanted there, but when the option is sewer.....?

Again, of course, the best option is to not generate the waste 
pharmaceuticals in the first place, and I think we need to continue to 
plant the seed and keep beating that drum.

-- 
Catherine Zimmer
Health Care Specialist

Minnesota Technical Assistance Program
University of Minnesota
phone 612/624-4635
http://www.mntap.umn.edu

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

On Oct 6 2008, Charlotte A. Smith wrote:

>The Wisconsin DNR has come up with a grid defining the type of facility
>that they consider a business versus a "home" with respect to the
>enforcement of RCRA. It is our understanding WDNR expects businesses to
>comply with existing hazardous waste regulations, including
>pharmaceuticals. You can access the website at
>http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/rl_dsl/Publications/pdfmemos/08-003attch.pdf
>
> 
>
>I hope this is helpful.
>
> 
>
>Best regards,
>
> 
>
> 
>
>Charlotte A. Smith, R. Ph., M.S., HEM
>
>President
>
>PharmEcology Associates, LLC
>
>12229 W. North Ave., Suite 2
>
>Wauwatosa, WI 53226
>
>414-292-3959
>
>414-915-4026 (cell)
>
>csmith at pharmecology.com
>
>www.pharmecology.com
>
>________________________________
>
>From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us
>[mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Tenace,
>Laurie
>Sent: Monday, October 06, 2008 3:19 PM
>To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
>Cc: APittman at HCNetwork.org
>Subject: [Pharmwaste] FW: appropriate disposal of expired drugs
>
> 
>
>Here is a question from a non-member of the list serve. But I think it
>is a good question for us to discuss and I'd like to hear of any
>solutions other states have come up with for clinics, nursing homes,
>vets - the people that kind of fall through the cracks - not covered by
>homeowner's exemptions but not big enough to use reverse distribution. I
>hate to tell them about RCRA and that they need incur costs to dispose
>of their drugs and have been told on more than one occasion that they
>are going to keep flushing their meds until I come up with a regulation
>that says they can't. 
>
> 
>
>Any good solutions out there? Or does anyone have regulations that help
>these very small generators? 
>
> 
>
>Laurie J. Tenace
>Environmental Specialist
>Florida Department of Environmental Protection
>2600 Blair Stone Road, MS 4555
>Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400
>PH: (850) 245-8759
>FAX: (850) 245-8811
>Laurie.Tenace at dep.state.fl.us 
>
>Mercury web pages:
>http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/mercury/default.htm
>
>Unwanted Medications web pages:
>http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/medications/default.htm
>
>
>
>
>Please Note:  Florida has a very broad public records law.  Most written
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>
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>
>From: Pittman, Anita [mailto:APittman at HCNetwork.org] 
>Sent: Monday, October 06, 2008 12:49 PM
>To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
>Subject: appropriate disposal of expired drugs
>
> 
>
>What is the appropriate and acceptable disposal policy for prescription
>and over the counter drugs  in a small clinic (non-narcotic)
>
>Thank you 
>
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