[Pharmwaste] Federal Incineration Reg - Email found in subject

[Gilliam, Allen]

guess we can start searching for another Yucca Mountain.....

and am not about micro wave.  But autoclaving won't destroy, it simply disinfects doesn't it?  disposal of pharmaceutials and proper disposal of medical waste are two separate issues.

allen g
-----Original Message-----
From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us [mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Jan Harris
Sent: Tuesday, July 13, 2010 12:12 PM
To: Sue Dayton; 'Al White'; 'gressitt'; 'Holcomb, Sarah, NMENV'
Cc: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] Federal Incineration Reg - Email found in subject

Sue, what would be your proposed method of destruction for the pharmaceutical waste there in NC?

Jan Harris, MPH
Director, EHS
Sharps Compliance
jharris at sharpsinc.com<mailto:jharris at sharpsinc.com>

From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us [mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Sue Dayton
Sent: Tuesday, July 13, 2010 5:04 AM
To: 'Al White'; 'gressitt'; 'Holcomb, Sarah, NMENV'
Cc: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] Federal Incineration Reg - Email found in subject

Hello Al:

We are currently "fighting" two medical waste incinerators here in NC: Stericycle and BMWNC (Healthcare Waste Solutions). Our goal is to convince them to switch to more environmentally-friendly methods of disposal, (i.e.), microwaving or autoclaving. Both incinerators are located next to schools and residential neighborhoods. Both have continued violations. Both are out of compliance with the new air standards for air pollutants under the new EPA rules for medical waste incinerators promulgated in 2009. Both burn paper and plastics as a means to fuel the incinerators - a method to reduce fuel costs, but a monstrous and absolutely needless disposal method that results in the formation of dioxins.

There is no regulation or testing required for the zillions of pharmaceuticals being incinerated: we do not know what is going in nor do we know what is going out. Haz pharms are supposed to be separated from non-haz pharms in our state (NC does not incinerate haz waste); however, questions remain if the two are actually being efficiently and effectively segregated.

The new EPA rules include (in addition to better recycling and waste segregation, increased monitoring/testing and removal of the exemption for uncontrolled emissions from "by-pass" events) stricter standards for air pollutants for medical waste incinerators. We are pushing to have our NC implement the new rules two years earlier than the EPA's compliance date of 2014.

Pharms disposal continues to be a wild card and must somehow be better regulated, tested and dealt with regarding their potential impacts to public health and the environment.

Sue Dayton
Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League
North Carolina Healthy Communities Program
PO BOX 44
Saxapahaw, NC 27340
(336) 525-2003
sdayton at swcp.com<mailto:sdayton at swcp.com>



Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.   -  Martin Luther King Jr.



________________________________
From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us [mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Al White
Sent: Tuesday, July 13, 2010 4:26 AM
To: 'gressitt'; 'Holcomb, Sarah, NMENV'
Cc: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] Federal Incineration Reg

Sarah/ Stevan:

Incineration is a very cost intensive, non-sustainable practice, Additionally and most importantly it must be performed properly under strict monitoring conditions. The un-intended by-product "Dioxin" et.al. will be produced and released If the pharm compounds are not raised to proper temperatures and maintained for prescribed time intervals under prescribed containment conditions. This is not a simple task. I am amazed that this practice is even permitted.

Al White

From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us [mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of gressitt
Sent: Monday, July 12, 2010 6:08 PM
To: Holcomb, Sarah, NMENV
Cc: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: Re: [Pharmwaste] Federal Incineration Reg

I  would ask them to provide the reg. It is not true in Maine.
Stevan Gressitt, M.D.
Faculty Associate, University of Maine Center on Aging
Founding Director
Maine Institute for Safe Medicine
University of New England, College of Pharmacy
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry
University of New England, College of Osteopathic Medicine
716 Stevens Avenue
Portland, Maine 04103
gressitt at gmail.com<mailto:gressitt at gmail.com>
Cell: 207-441-0291

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