[Pharmwaste] Best way to destroy collected Pharmaceuticals?

Tue Sep 7 15:12:58 EDT 2010

Hi Pete,

EPA has worked with  RTI - Research Triangle Institute to develop a very comprehensive solid waste decision tool. Within that tool is a breakdown of various segments of the solid waste and it's greenhouse gas impacts. I recommend calling Keith Waits @ (919) 541-6973 for details on the decision model. See this document for a good discussion - http://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyNET.exe/100013LB.txt?ZyActionD=ZyDocument&Client=EPA&Index=1995%20Thru%201999&Docs=&Query=530R98013%20or%20Solid%20or%20waste%20or%20decision%20or%20model&Time=&EndTime=&SearchMethod=1&TocRestrict=n&Toc=&TocEntry=&QField=pubnumber^"530R98013"&QFieldYear=&QFieldMonth=&QFieldDay=&UseQField=pubnumber&IntQFieldOp=1&ExtQFieldOp=1&XmlQuery=&File=D:\ZYFILES\INDEX%20DATA\95THRU99\TXT\00000010\100013LB.txt&User=ANONYMOUS&Password=anonymous&SortMethod=h|-&MaximumDocuments=10&FuzzyDegree=0&ImageQuality=r75g8/r75g8/x150y150g16/i425&Display=p|f&DefSeekPage=x&SearchBack=ZyActionL&Back=ZyActionS&BackDesc=Results%20page&MaximumPages=1&ZyEntry=1 <http://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyNET.exe/100013LB.txt?ZyActionD=ZyDocument&Client=EPA&Index=1995%20Thru%201999&Docs=&Query=530R98013%20or%20Solid%20or%20waste%20or%20decision%20or%20model&Time=&EndTime=&SearchMethod=1&TocRestrict=n&Toc=&TocEntry=&QField=pubnumber%5e%22530R98013%22&QFieldYear=&QFieldMonth=&QFieldDay=&UseQField=pubnumber&IntQFieldOp=1&ExtQFieldOp=1&XmlQuery=&File=D:\ZYFILES\INDEX%20DATA\95THRU99\TXT\00000010\100013LB.txt&User=ANONYMOUS&Password=anonymous&SortMethod=h|-&MaximumDocuments=10&FuzzyDegree=0&ImageQuality=r75g8/r75g8/x150y150g16/i425&Display=p|f&DefSeekPage=x&SearchBack=ZyActionL&Back=ZyActionS&BackDesc=Results%20page&MaximumPages=1&ZyEntry=1> 

Depending on the garbage composition and the age of the facility, a WTE Facility will generate a net for sale 500-600 kWh/ton. Pharmaceuticals are typically a part of the Municipal Solid Waste stream and therefore have this value.

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: Pete Pasterz [mailto:PAPasterz at cabarruscounty.us] 
Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2010 11:46 AM
To: Taam, Damon; pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] Best way to destroy collected Pharmaceuticals?

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

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

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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