[Pharmwaste] Healthcare: No Options to Flushing?!

Catherine Zimmer zimme053 at umn.edu
Thu Aug 20 10:19:09 EDT 2009 

Hi all,
Healthcare facilities have plenty of options besides sending waste 
pharmaceuticals to the sanitary sewer and hence drinking water and 
wildlife habitat. First and foremost the waste presents an opportunity 
to review practices and policies that lead to waste. They can improve 
inventory management and prescribing practices. They can eliminate the 
use of sample drugs in favor of vouchers. They can make better use of 
automated distribution systems and they can encourage prevention to 
minimize the use of drugs in the first place.

Waste pharmaceuticals can be incinerated, and some hazardous waste 
incinerators have DEA registration. So, to say the drugs will pile up 
with no options, is a misplaced belief not based on fact.

Our office has worked with the healthcare industry for over 12 years on 
pollution prevention and they have options. Its more a matter of 
changing practices and attitudes. And having to pay for drug disposal is 
a good driver to reduce the waste. For more information on MnTAP's work 
to reduce pharmaceutical waste see, 
www.mntap.umn.edu/health/94-PharmWaste.htm

And on that prevention note--we all have a responsibility too. If we're 
still looking at a quick fix for our health problems by taking a pill, 
we're part of the problem. Improving our health by asking our docs for 
alternatives to pharmaceuticals, eating fresh, organic, unprocessed and 
local foods, minimizing or eliminating our consumption of meat and 
dairy, exercising, reducing auto and energy use, etc--we all know the 
drill, benefits our health, the air breathe and water we drink.

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



Tenace, Laurie wrote:
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>
> Protection values your feedback as a customer. DEP Secretary Michael W. Sole is committed to continuously assessing and 
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> survey: http://survey.dep.state.fl.us/?refemail=Laurie.Tenace@dep.state.fl.us Thank you in advance for completing the survey.
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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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