[Pharmwaste] San Antonio - Texas / MedDropSA results

[Matthew C. Mireles]

Charlotte,
You're speaking like a true public health expert!  Thank you.  Our challenge is to change behavior and attitude, which will not be easy.

Matthew Mireles


-----Original Message-----
>From: "Charlotte A. Smith" <csmith at pharmecology.com>
>Sent: Jun 8, 2010 8:44 PM
>To: "Gabriel, Fred A" <gabriel.fred at cleanharbors.com>, "Volkman, Jennifer (MPCA)" <Jennifer.Volkman at state.mn.us>, Mark <mdonahue3 at charter.net>, pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
>Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] San Antonio - Texas / MedDropSA results
>
>With all due respect, the process of de-constructing dosage forms and
>re-formulating to FDA standards would be so complex and costly it would
>not be conceivable, even if you could actually get the products back to
>the manufacturing plants, many of which are overseas. If you really want
>to reduce pharm waste, focus on changing prescribing habits, encourage
>positive life-style changes, and other interventions to reduce the
>amount of drugs wasted. 
>
>Best regards, 
>
>Charlotte A. Smith, R. Ph., M.S., HEM
>Director, PharmEcology Services
>WM Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
>12229 W. North Ave., Suite 2
>Wauwatosa, WI 53226
>414-292-3959
>713-725-6363 (cell)
>414-479-9941 (fax)
>csmith at pharmecology.com
>
>Waste Management's renewable energy projects create enough energy to
>power over 1 million homes.
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us
>[mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Gabriel,
>Fred A
>Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2010 1:03 PM
>To: Volkman, Jennifer (MPCA); Mark; pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
>Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] San Antonio - Texas / MedDropSA results
>
>Jennifer,
>
>I spoke with the former manager of a reverse distributor in Conyers, GA.
>I worked with this individual as far back as 1995, so he has quite a few
>years experience with the reverse distribution process.  He informed me
>the percentage of medicines through the reverse distribution process
>which are routed to an incinerator is more like 99.5%.  Historically the
>material being routed to the manufacturers from the reverse distributor
>were incinerated in the captive units operated by the manufacturers
>rather than reformulated or recycled.  With the passage of MACT the
>volume of material moving to the commercial incineration market
>increased over the years.  Over the years cetain materials have been
>'recycled' or 're-used' by the manufacturers; however, this is the
>historical exception not the rule.
>
>Fred
>________________________________
>From: Volkman, Jennifer (MPCA) [Jennifer.Volkman at state.mn.us]
>Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2010 12:55 PM
>To: Mark; pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
>Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] San Antonio - Texas / MedDropSA results
>
>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
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>
>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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