[Pharmwaste] San Antonio - Texas / MedDropSA results

Tue Jun 8 12:55:56 EDT 2010

Excellent!  I support product stewardship and I agree the scenario you describe would be better than incineration, hands down.  I think electronics manufacturers have learned a lot about product design, minimizing waste and hopefully some distribution efficiencies also.

I am wondering if you think we should put language directing pharms to be recycled by manufacturers in all product stewardship legislation?  Do you think it is best to start with that or work it in later?  I like the idea.  I also like the idea that people could send unused pharms right back to the mfg, but I'm not sure people would be willing to cover postage.  Maybe they could do something like 360 Vodka does, which is to attach an envelope to return the lock cap for reuse for any first time prescription. I am also thinkikng about the supplements I took back to GNC. Nothing they have is controlled or prescribed, it seems like they'd be in a great position to guide that stuff back to the manufacturer.

Also, although manufacturers do have reverse distribution in place and do give credit to pharmacies for returned pharms, I have talked with Veolia, a licensed redistributor, and they have stated that the vast majority, 90% plus is disposed of through them vs. routed on to the manufacturer.  I am guessing that decision is based on cost and simplicity vs. anything to do with the environment and sustainability.  As Rick notes, there is a learning curve. I have not talked to other redistributors that are not also waste management firms, so I am not sure whether that is true for them too.  We did have one in MN for awhile and they managed for disposal.  Does anyone have a good idea what percentage that is redistributed actually makes it back to the manufacturer?

Maybe we could work with a "green" manufacturer of a line of supplements to see how that would work.  It would be a great grant project.

________________________________
From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us [pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Reibstein, Rick (EEA) [Rick.Reibstein at state.ma.us]
Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2010 11:44 AM
To: Matthew Mccarron; Mark; gressitt
Cc: 'Jeff Hollar'; pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us; 'Matthew C. Mireles'
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] San Antonio - Texas / MedDropSA results

Well said.  The benefits of a full-out takeback program could be considerable, including the good will it would generate.  I think it is also not inconceivable that the more that is learned by developing recovery of useful active ingredients the more the industry will advance processing technologies that will benefit the front end as well.

From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us [mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Matthew Mccarron
Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2010 12:18 PM
To: Mark; gressitt
Cc: 'Jeff Hollar'; pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us; 'Matthew C. Mireles'
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] San Antonio - Texas / MedDropSA results

I've said this on this list serv several years ago, manufacturer take back is the most protective way to manage this problem.  You already have reverse distribution in place.  The manufacturer and their production facility already has pollution control for air,water and waste in place at their production facility.  If they can formulate, they can deconstruct and recycle chemicals and as an added bonus protect any proprietary formulations due to better product distribution control.  Since most of the product sold is consumed cost should be pennies per item sold.

Granted it is cheaper to burn, and currently this industry does not know what the costs for this activity will be.  The Pharm industry should take a lesson from the electronics industry by evaluating the cost impact, build it into the product cost and get out ahead of a hodgepodge of well intended but poorly designed and executed state legislation (20 different versions), before it falls into the same trap.  The biggest challenge is the overseas manufacturer willingness to comply, which is why Federal legislation is needed to control products sold in the US.

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

Green Business = Good Business

>>> gressitt <gressitt at zoho.com> 6/7/2010 4:13 PM >>>
Why? What is better?

---- On Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:04:13 -0700 Mark <mdonahue3 at charter.net<mailto:mdonahue3 at charter.net>> wrote ----
But the *solution* is still incineration. Not good!

Mark Donahue
ListServe Contributor

________________________________
From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us<mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us> [mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Matthew C. Mireles
Sent: Monday, June 07, 2010 6:16 PM
To: Jeff Hollar; pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us<mailto:pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us>
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] San Antonio - Texas / MedDropSA results
That actually may qualify each household as small waste generator...  : )

-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Hollar
Sent: Jun 7, 2010 2:47 PM
To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us<mailto:pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us>
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] San Antonio - Texas / MedDropSA results

Wow - That’s over 10 pounds of pharmaceutical waste per vehicle!  That seems high for a single consumer household.

Jeff Hollar

President

 PharmWaste Technologies, Inc.

 (P) 515-276-5302 Ext. 316

 (W) www.pwaste.com

From: Tenace, Laurie [mailto:Laurie.Tenace at dep.state.fl.us]
Sent: Monday, June 07, 2010 1:41 PM
To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us<mailto:pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us>
Subject: [Pharmwaste] San Antonio - Texas / MedDropSA results

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: Ken Diehl [mailto:Ken.Diehl at saws.org]
Sent: Monday, June 07, 2010 12:17 PM
To: 'pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us'
Subject: FW: San Antonio - Texas / MedDropSA results

May I ask this List Group if any other Program of it’s kind has exceeded 1,336 lbs. for a one time collection of unused/unwanted medicines collected in the US?  Thanks.

Ken Diehl, Environmental Protection Specialist IV

Resource Protection & Compliance Department

San Antonio Water System

P.O. Box 2449

San Antonio, Texas  78298

Work: (210) 233-3535

Fax:    (210) 233-4797

ken.diehl at saws.org<mailto:ken.diehl at saws.org>

From: Ken Diehl
Sent: Monday, June 07, 2010 9:02 AM
To: 'Smith, Helen E.'; 'Georgia Zannaras'; 'judy at restorativehealth.com'; 'wiesner.dennis at heb.com'; 'Afamia El-Nakat'; 'pgoodwin at homeinstead.com'
Cc: 'pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us'; Mike Gonzales; 'Jessica Huybregts'; Donovan Burton; William Peche; 'Winter, Andrew'; Dave Diehl; 'eljohnso at tceq.state.tx.us'; David Newman; 'Joseph Krupa'; 'Guzman, John A'; 'James Miertschin'; 'Joe Gildersleeve'; 'Danny Siebeneicher'; Ken Diehl; Erik Hobson; Kirk Nixon; Robert Martinez; Sarah Gatewood
Subject: San Antonio - Texas / MedDropSA results

I wanted to share the results provided by the San Antonio Police Department/Narcotics Division of “MedDropSA” that was held this last Sat. (June 5th) in San Antonio Texas.  MedDropSA is the name for the City of San Antonio’s residential pharmaceutical drug disposal program. See Flyer attached.

The San Antonio Water System has partnering with the San Antonio Police Department and the City’s Solid Waste Management Division on a new initiative, MedDropSA.  This program is designed to collect unwanted or unused medications, both prescription and over-the-counter.  The event was scheduled in conjunction with the City’s Household Hazardous Waste collection day to collect old/unneeded pharmaceuticals, providing a safe, free alternative to disposal.

Error! Filename not specified.Weight:

•        Pills - 1,007 lbs

•        Liquids/powders/creams - 329 lbs

          GRAND TOTAL: 1,336 lbs

Approximate number of vehicles participated:

•       110

Boxes to be incinerated by Law enforcement at a permitted facility:

•       Total of 36 boxes

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.

Ken Diehl, Environmental Protection Specialist IV

Resource Protection & Compliance Department

San Antonio Water System

P.O. Box 2449

San Antonio, Texas  78298

Work: (210) 233-3535

Fax:    (210) 233-4797

ken.diehl at saws.org<mailto:ken.diehl at saws.org>

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