FW: [Pharmwaste] Illinois Prohibits Health Facilities from FlushingMeds

Tenace, Laurie Laurie.Tenace at dep.state.fl.us
Thu Aug 20 08:14:22 EDT 2009


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From: Copeland.Marjorie at epamail.epa.gov
[mailto:Copeland.Marjorie at epamail.epa.gov] 
Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2009 8:03 AM
To: DeBiasi,Deborah
Cc: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us;
pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: Re: [Pharmwaste] Illinois Prohibits Health Facilities from
FlushingMeds

While this is a step in the right direction, there's nothing said about
what the health care facilities are suppose to do with unused
medications, which is almost as important.  These facilities need an
alternative or the medications are going to pile up in industrial
quantities, not to mention there's a greater chance for diversion.


Marjorie W. Copeland
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water
Mail Code 4606M
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC  20460-0001

Phone: (202) 564-3876
FAX (202) 564-3756
E-Mail:   copeland.marjorie at epa.gov





 
From:       "DeBiasi,Deborah" <Deborah.DeBiasi at deq.virginia.gov>
To:         <pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us>
Date:       08/19/2009 04:04 PM
Subject:    [Pharmwaste] Illinois Prohibits Health Facilities from Flushing
Meds                                                 
 
Unless someone is ‘caught in the act’ of flushing unused medications, I
don’t know how they could monitor and enforce this given the amount of
medications that are excreted.  A positive result will be awareness
along with better guidance and SOPs in health care facilities.


********


http://wwn-online.com/articles/2009/08/17/illinois-prohibits-health-facilitie
s-from-flushing-meds.aspx


Illinois Prohibits Health Facilities from Flushing Meds


Aug 17, 2009


Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn on Aug. 10 signed several key environmental
bills, including one that will prohibit health care institutions from
flushing unused medications into public wastewater. Other legislation
will track water usage by high capacity wells throughout the state.


“This action is another important step in protecting our state’s
precious natural resources,” said Quinn. “Keeping our water safe from
unused medications and tracking water usage will help us preserve our
waterways for future generations.”


Senate Bill 1919 creates the Pharmaceutical Disposal Act and was
sponsored by Sen. Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest) and Rep. Karen May
(D-Highwood). The new law provides that health care institutions may not
discharge, dispose, flush, pour or empty any unused medication into a
public wastewater collection system or septic system. Violators are
subject to a fine.


"For years, disposing unused or expired medicines in wastewater was
common, even recommended practice. Today, we’re making clear how serious
we are at stopping this practice before Illinois faces an environmental
or community health crisis," said Sen. Garrett.


The bill can be found here:
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=1919&GAID=10&DocTypeID=
SB&SessionID=76&GA=96


Deborah L. DeBiasi
Email:   Deborah.DeBiasi at deq.virginia.gov (NEW!)
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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