[Pharmwaste] Covanta Energy Extends Program to Safely and Securely Destroy Prescription Drugs Collected at Take-Back Events

[DeBiasi, Deborah (DEQ)]

Covanta Energy Extends Program to Safely and Securely Destroy
Prescription Drugs Collected at Take-Back Events

 
The Rx4Safety program aids in the proper destruction of potentially
harmful prescription drugs

MORRISTOWN, N.J., Dec. 17, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on evidence of
pollution in waterways and drinking water, as well as an increase in
pharmaceutical drug abuse, Covanta Energy Corporation developed the
Prescription for Safety Program (Rx4Safety) to safely dispose of
medications collected at community-sponsored drug take-back programs,
free of charge. The program was set to expire in 2010; however, based on
the program's success and encouragement by its partners and clients,
Covanta has elected to extend the program through the end of 2011.  
Since launching the program earlier this year, Covanta Energy-from-Waste
(EfW) facilities have destroyed more than 30,000 pounds of unwanted
medications from collections held by municipalities, community groups,
and law enforcement agencies around the United States. 

Take-back events, like the recent national Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
campaign and efforts by the National Association of Drug Diversion
Investigators (NADDI) provide a safe, confidential and proper way to
dispose of unwanted medications, including prescription and
over-the-counter drugs, veterinary medications and nutritional
supplements. Utilizing Covanta's Rx4Safety program enables groups
holding take-back events to ensure environmentally proper disposal.
Covanta Energy's EfW facilities provide safe, environmentally sound
destruction that protects water resources and keeps unauthorized users
safe from abuse. 

When flushed down the drain, or disposed of in landfills, medications
find their way into waterways and contaminate surface waters, having an
adverse effect on our drinking water and the environment. A recent study
conducted by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection shows that
unwanted prescription drugs being tossed into landfills pose a threat to
surface and groundwater supplies around the state. Test results of
leachate at three Maine landfills showed concentrations of a wide range
of pharmaceuticals. These drugs cannot be removed from water supplies at
typical waste water treatment plants and the contaminated water can then
have negative effects on aquatic organisms, fish, and other wildlife.

"Covanta was motivated to roll out the Rx4Safety program after we became
aware of the impact pharmaceutical drugs were having on our water
supplies and the increasing problem of abuse. We are thrilled to work
with organizations that are leading the way on this issue such as The
Product Stewardship Institute (PSI) and the Prescription Pill and Drug
Disposal Program (P2D2) and are happy to provide final, safe, and secure
disposal of the collected drugs," said John G. Waffenschmidt, Covanta
Energy Vice President, Environmental Science and Community Affairs. "Our
Energy-from-Waste facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art
combustion controls and air pollution control equipment to ensure the
destruction of these drugs in an environmentally sound manner, one that
protects the water we depend upon day in and day out and ensures that
unwanted drugs are not available for abuse." 

The Product Stewardship Institute (PSI) has taken a national leadership
position in the need for increased product stewardship.  In the case of
pharmaceuticals, PSI has been leading the dialogue on best practices,
including proper destruction. They have been instrumental in education
efforts to raise awareness about the issue and collaborated with Covanta
on the development of the free disposal program. Thanks to PSI's efforts
and those of countless other groups, a new federal law, signed on
October 12 by President Barack Obama, will reduce costs and create more
opportunities for collecting unused medicines from homes and long-term
care facilities. The Safe and Secure Drug Disposal Act will give
communities more options for providing secure take-back programs to
prevent drug abuse, reduce the chances of accidental poisonings, and
keep pharmaceutical drugs out of the environment.  

"It's extremely important that medications are disposed of properly to
curtail abuse and the contamination of our environment," said Scott
Cassel, Executive Director of the Product Stewardship Institute.
"Covanta's offer to dispose of collected pharmaceuticals free of charge
reduces costs for municipalities holding take-back programs. These
collaborations are important steps in lowering the environmental and
health risks associated with unwanted pharmaceuticals.  Thermal
destruction at Energy-from-Waste facilities, hazardous waste
incinerators, or medical waste incinerators, provides for the ultimate
destruction of these drugs."

"The tireless effort of people like Paul Ritter of P2D2 has raised
awareness and prompted communities to adopt proper disposal methods.
Paul's commitment to getting the word out about the right way to handle
unwanted drugs is remarkable. Whenever I speak with him, I'm inspired to
do all I can in helping to get his message out," continued
Waffenschmidt. 

"It is an honor for the P2D2 Program to be able to work alongside so
many great communities and organizations, such as Covanta Energy, to
solve one of our nation's greatest tragedies," said Paul Ritter, founder
of P2D2.  "The misuse and abuse of drugs in America is at an all time
high. Water, our most precious resource, needs to be protected from
possible contamination resulting from improper pharmaceutical disposal.
If it were not for dedicated leaders and Covanta, there would not be a
viable disposal option for many communities.  P2D2 is committed to help
communities around the globe develop sustainable solutions and establish
disposal programs of their own." 

In addition to properly managing the destruction of these unwanted drugs
and protecting our clean water supply, collected drugs are used to
create electricity. Covanta's Energy-from-Waste facilities reduce
greenhouse gases and produce clean, renewable energy from municipal
solid waste. 

Municipalities interested in participating in Covanta's program must
obtain appropriate regulatory approvals in order to ensure that such
wastes are not classified as hazardous waste from a federal, state, or
local perspective. Each program would be subject to a due diligence
review by Covanta Energy. For more information, please email
Rx4Safety at covantaenergy.com. 
For more information on PSI visit, http://www.productstewardship.us
<http://www.productstewardship.us/> . For P2D2 visit,
www.p2d2program.org <http://www.p2d2program.org/> . 

About Covanta 

Covanta Energy is an internationally recognized owner and operator of
large-scale Energy-from-Waste and renewable energy projects and a
recipient of the Energy Innovator Award from the U.S. Department of
Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.  Covanta's 44
Energy-from-Waste facilities provide communities with an environmentally
sound solution to their solid waste disposal needs by using that
municipal solid waste to generate clean, renewable energy. Annually,
Covanta's modern Energy-from-Waste facilities safely and securely
convert approximately 20 million tons of waste into 9 million megawatt
hours of clean, renewable electricity and create more than 9 billion
pounds of steam sold to a variety of industries. For more information,
visit www.covantaenergy.com <http://www.covantaenergy.com/> .

SOURCE Covanta Energy Corporation



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 and Compliance Assistance Programs 
Industrial Pretreatment/Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) Program 
PPCPs, EDCs, and Microconstituents
www.deq.virginia.gov/vpdes/microconstituents.html 
Mail:          P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA  23218 
Location:  629 E. Main Street, Richmond, VA  23219 
PH:         804-698-4028 
FAX:      804-698-4032 


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