[Pharmwaste] FW: appropriate disposal of expired drugs

[Jacob Hutti]

The other major point to consider is that medications taken by
individuals ultimately end up in waste water systems through urine and
feces. Sometimes, as with meperidine, they are more toxic than the
parent compound. Some medications are excreted totally unchanged in the
urine. This bulk would be interesting to quantify and compare to the
current expired drug mass being discussed. The solution, distasteful as
it is, seems to come back to better treatment  irrespective of the item
deposited as waste. 

-----Original Message-----
From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us
[mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of
gressitt at uninets.net
Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2008 10:47 AM
To: zimme053 at umn.edu
Cc: Charlotte A. Smith; apittman at hcnetwork.org; Tenace, Laurie;
pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] FW: appropriate disposal of expired drugs



The prevention is what is key. Seems to be a harder discussion to have
with some people than the disposal even.
Stevan Gressitt, M.D.

> 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
>>communications to or from state officials regarding state business are
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>>e-mail is communications and may therefore be subject to public
>>disclosure.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>The Department of Environmental Protection values your feedback as a
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>>you. Please take a few minutes to comment on the quality of service
you
>>received. Simply click on this link to the DEP Customer Survey
>><http://survey.dep.state.fl.us/?refemail=Laurie.Tenace@dep.state.fl.us
>
>>. Thank you in advance for completing the survey.
>>
>>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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>
>
>
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-- 
Stevan Gressitt, M.D.
207-441-0291
www.mainebenzo.org

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