[Pharmwaste] Best way to destroy collected Pharmaceuticals?

[Pete Pasterz]

Just curious, for comparison, do you know how many tons CO2 equivalents are saved through recycling the various constituents of that ton of resources instead?

Have you calculated the BTU value of pharmaceuticals?

þ Pete Pasterz, NCQRP
Cabarrus County Recycling and HHW
PO BOX 707
Concord, NC  28026
704-920-3280
www.cabarruscounty.us/waste<http://www.cabarruscounty.us/waste>
If you're not for ZERO Waste, how much Waste ARE you for?

From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us [mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Taam, Damon
Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2010 2:34 PM
To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] Best way to destroy collected Pharmaceuticals?

The cost for the 25 clinical pharmacies utilizing the Spokane Waste to Energy Facility is 8.25 cents per pound ($165.00/ton) at the gate. The most of the pharmacies utilize a reverse distributor for transport and to assure regulatory compliance with the regulations. As per previous discussions, WTE Facilities generate power, vs incinerators that use lots of fossil fuels. The air pollution equipment utilized and air quality regulations are similar and therefore the emissions are very similar. However, a WTE facility produces electricity at a net emission rate of negative 3,636 lbs of CO2 /MWh. In other words, on a lifecycle basis, for every ton of trash burned at a WTE plant, approximately one ton of CO2 equivalents is reduced. Attached is a brochure and a list of facilities throughout the USA.

Damon M.K. Taam
Spokane Regional Solid Waste System
221 N. Wall, Suite 410
Spokane, WA 99201

(509) 625-6580 Office
(509) 625-6537 Fax

dtaam at spokanecity.org

www.solidwaste.org

From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us [mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Grasso, Cheri
Sent: Friday, September 03, 2010 2:51 PM
To: Pete Pasterz; pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] Best way to destroy collected Pharmaceuticals?

At our 14 retail pharmacy take backs in the Seattle/Puget Sound region (where they screen out controlled substances) the medicines are disposed at a Hazardous Waste incinerator.  They are able to use our state blanket contract for disposal of hazardous waste and it costs a little over $1/pound.

The 25 clinical pharmacies are using a waste-to-energy incinerator.

Cheri

Cheri Grasso
Pharmaceuticals Project
Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County
130 Nickerson Street, Suite 100 | Seattle, WA  98109 | 206-263-3089
www.lhwmp.org
From: Pete Pasterz [mailto:PAPasterz at cabarruscounty.us]
Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 2010 3:06 PM
To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: [Pharmwaste] Best way to destroy collected Pharmaceuticals?

While there seem to be many approaches in the accounts/case studies of pharma collections from community events and from health care facilities, final disposition is usually not addressed.  If there is a mention at all in the collection protocols I've read, "incineration" is usually used without definition.

Questions:
1] What ultimately happens to the drugs that you collect or that are collected in your jurisdictions?
2] If incinerated, in what type of incinerator?
                Medical Waste?
                MSW?
                Industrial Kiln?
                Crematory?
                On-site mobile/portable unit?
                Other?

Bonus Question-
For Air Quality regulators on the list [or one that you know to whom you can forward this], what are your State/Regional standards or requirements, if any?  How do they ensure that this process is ultimately safer to health and environment than landfill or sewer disposal?



þ Pete Pasterz, NCQRP
Cabarrus County Recycling and HHW
PO BOX 707
Concord, NC  28026
704-920-3280
www.cabarruscounty.us/waste<http://www.cabarruscounty.us/waste>
If you're not for ZERO Waste, how much Waste ARE you for?


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E-mail correspondence to and from this address may be subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.

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E-mail correspondence to and from this address may be subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.

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