[Pharmwaste] Re: Pharmwaste Digest, Vol 44, Issue 12

Wed Jun 24 18:06:18 EDT 2009

Hi Everyone,

Mathew is correct that expired pharmaceuticals in original packaging can
be sent through reverse distribution for the purpose of obtaining credit
9with some state restrictions based on hazardous waste regulations).
This function does not assess, however, how actual drug waste is being
managed in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. The upcoming EPA
Office of Water survey will likely provide the first comprehensive look
at disposal practices ofr actual drug waste in these facilities. 

Best regards, 

Charlotte A. Smith, R. Ph., M.S., HEM

Director, PharmEcology Services

WM Healthcare Solutions

12229 W. North Ave., Suite 2

Wauwatosa, WI 53226

414-292-3959

414-915-4026(cell)

414-479-9941 (fax)

csmith at pharmecology.com

Waste Management's renewable energy projects create enough energy to
power over 1 million homes.

From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us
[mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Tenace,
Laurie
Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 6:48 AM
To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: FW: [Pharmwaste] Re: Pharmwaste Digest, Vol 44, Issue 12

The Department of Environmental Protection values your feedback as a
customer. DEP Secretary Michael W. Sole is committed to continuously
assessing and improving the level and quality of services provided to
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: mcmireles at communityofcompetence.com
[mailto:mcmireles at communityofcompetence.com] 
Sent: Monday, June 22, 2009 4:22 PM
To: VeoraLittle at aol.com; MMccarro at dtsc.ca.gov;
wamore at gw.dec.state.ny.us; pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: Re: [Pharmwaste] Re: Pharmwaste Digest, Vol 44, Issue 12

We conduct the Annual Survey of non-institutional drug take-back
programs and publish the National Directory of Drug Take-Back and
Disposal Programs.  We have been in contact with 80 such programs
organized by community coalitions.  Our Survey has provided some
valuable "baseline info" that we wish to measure over time.  

We don't survey healthcare instititions because most are involved with
commerical reverse distributors for disposal of unused and expired meds
(UEMs).  You may be able to get some info from the companies.  However,
I don't believe you can obtain a total picture of all the institutions
because of the number of vendors involved.  No federal agency is
collecting this info.

However, we set up the National UEM Registry in 2004 and have been
receiving, coding, and analyzing a large volume of UEM data shared by
several drug take-back programs.  They mainly submit the data to us for
evaluation.  We enter all the info into the Registry for national
comparison.  We are seeing several best practices and are offering a
handy Manual of Procedures to assist any group in organizing a drug
take-back program.  

If anyone wants a copy of these publications, please contact me
directly.

Matthew C. Mireles, PhD, MPH
President and CEO
Community Medical Foundation for Patient Safety
6300 West Loop South, Suite 288
Bellaire, TX 78401
832-778-7777
www.communityofcompetence.com

________________________________

From: VeoraLittle at aol.com
Sent: Monday, June 22, 2009 11:53 AM
To: MMccarro at dtsc.ca.gov, wamore at gw.dec.state.ny.us,
pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: Re: [Pharmwaste] Re: Pharmwaste Digest, Vol 44, Issue 12

Consider this program, Operation Medicine Cabinet, A pharmaceutical
take-back program.  This program utilizes many community partners
including Waste Management, Law enforcement and coalitions for drug free
spaces.

is a community event that Collier County Sheriff's Office and
Drugfreecollier have been doing for many years.  We have worked with
Collier County Solid Waste Management (Danette Huff and Beth Ryan) for
several years.  They have 

We know that it is illegal to collect controlled substances without Law
enforcement present.  We know that not only our environment but our
youth and seniors (overdose, errors, abuse, selling) are in danger.
Attached is a wonderful program we can  start in all communities to
bring education and the beginnings of a solution.  

Veora Little,CRNA   239-649-4202  veoralittle at gmail.com   a volunteer
with www.drugfreecollier.org 

In a message dated 6/22/2009 11:32:16 A.M. Central Daylight Time,
MMccarro at dtsc.ca.gov writes:

	This would seem to call for a "baseline assessment" of the
industry's handling practices, so that we can look at "take back"
efforts with more informed vision.

	I would add that we would need the same assessment for:

	-long term care facilities

	-Skilled nursing/rehabilitation facilities

	-mental heath facilities

	-Medical Clinics 

	-retirement complexes with medial clinics

	-veterinary hospital/kennels

	-veterinary services for agricultural purposes -livestock/ feed
lot/dairy

	There may be others.

	Matt McCarron

	Pollution Prevention/Green Business

	CA Dept. of Toxic Substances Control

	700 Heinz Ave. Suite 300  MS R2 - 2-3

	Berkeley, CA 94710

	510-540-3828

	Sustaining our resources sustains our future generations

	>>> "William More" <wamore at gw.dec.state.ny.us> 6/22/2009 7:57 AM
>>>

	So what is the present compliance rate with our Hospitals
Pharmacies with the RCRA - Hazardous waste regulations? 

	How are they achieving Hazardous Waste Determinations? How do
they segregate wastes, and when?

	How many have a program that know where the stuff that the
reverse distributors don't want to take go?  What happens to the waste -
contaminated packaging - that comes from dispensing drugs that can be a
"P" waste?  Do the reverse distributors(RDs) tell the hospitals about
these materials? Do they, the RDs, take these back?

	Does that make them a TSDF?  Are they manifested?  What
mechanisms are the Hospital Pharmacies using to recover these materials
from the patient floors?

	What are the RDs doing with those materials that are never
credited? The partials that can't be reused because that are not factory
sealed?  Those materials that are so far out of date?  The RDs know what
they are. Do they pick them up anyway. Does that make them a TSDF? Are
they manifested?

	Have all of the Hospital Pharmacies had their Formulary,(likely
stocked Drugs), reviewed as to which ones can be a Hazardous Waste when
unusable ,unreturnable, un credited, when a waste. Have they looked for
characteristic Hazardous Waste? Mercury compounds that may be used as a
preservative? Metals in vitamins or dietary supplements? Alcohol or CFCs
in inhalers?

	What are we seeing when we look at these questions???????

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