[Pharmwaste] San Antonio - Texas / MedDropSA results

Matthew Mccarron MMccarro at dtsc.ca.gov
Tue Jun 8 13:24:33 EDT 2010


One of the main problems with various E-waste legislations is that the
distribution network was not included in any responsibility for
take-back, so it would have to be contractual with each manufacturer and
the distributors and sales chain.  Everybody in the middle makes money
too, so they should be part of the solution as well.  
 
Some will make specious arguments (as in Electronics sales)  that they
do not know of the final end point of some products, since that task is
turned over to the distribution network, but that is incorrect.  Every
unit is tracked by barcode so that everybody in the middle, sales for
manufacturers, production and planning gets paid their fair share.
 
Matt McCarron 

>>> "Volkman, Jennifer (MPCA)" <Jennifer.Volkman at state.mn.us> 6/8/2010
9:55 AM >>>
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>
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] On Behalf Of
Matthew C. Mireles
Sent: Monday, June 07, 2010 6:16 PM
To: Jeff Hollar; 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 
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 
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

 

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
 
 

--- 
Note: As a courtesy to other listserv subscribers, please post messages
to the listserv in plain text format to avoid the garbling of messages
received by digest recipients. 
--- 
TO SUBSCRIBE, go to:
http://lists.dep.state.fl.us/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/pharmwaste 
TO UNSUBSCRIBE, DO NOT REPLY TO THE LISTSERV. Please send an e-mail to
pharmwaste-unsubscribe at lists.dep.state.fl.us -- the subject line and
body of the e-mail should be blank. 
If you believe you may be subscribed with a different email address,
please visit the subscriber listing at
http://lists.dep.state.fl.us/cgi-bin/mailman/roster/pharmwaste 
FOR PROBLEMS: Contact List Administrator Laurie.Tenace at dep.state.fl.us

SEND MAIL to the list server at: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us 

 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.dep.state.fl.us/pipermail/pharmwaste/attachments/20100608/5f3ef24b/attachment.htm


More information about the Pharmwaste mailing list