[Pharmwaste] Fwd: Google Alert - unused medicine disposal

Tue Jul 12 15:41:42 EDT 2011

Lucy, Cheri,

Interesting reports filled with some great info.  Thanks for making us aware
of it.  

I didn't mean to open a can of worms, but this discussion has brought up
some great resources and info.  Thanks to all who have contributed.
Knowledge is power.  I have a couple of floating questions out there, but
anticipate responses soon.

Jeff Hollar

President

PharmWaste Technologies, Inc.

4164 NW Urbandale Dr., Ste A

Urbandale, IA 50322

515-276-5302 (general)

515-331-7310 (direct)

515-360-9785 (cell)

 <http://www.pwaste.com/> www.pwaste.com

From: Lucy, Burke [mailto:Burke.Lucy at CalRecycle.ca.gov] 
Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2011 11:41 AM
To: 'Grasso, Cheri'; 'Jeff Hollar'; 'Stevan Gressitt'; 'pharmwaste';
'rxnews'
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] Fwd: Google Alert - unused medicine disposal

Jeff,

Here's what our Report to the Legislature Recommendations for Home-Generated
Pharmaceutical Collection Programs in California
<http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/Publications/General/2011008.pdf>  said about
mailback security: 

The following mail-back-related example of potential illegal drug diversion
was not part of any official collection program. However, it does indicate
the security concerns surrounding such programs even though the USPS boasts
a 94 percent conviction rate for crimes that range far afield from stolen
mail or forged money orders.53 The USPS investigated multiple reports of
prescription medication mailed to veterans from the Veterans Administration
that disappeared from a South Sacramento post office.54

53 Sweeney, Paul, "Delivering evidence: not just the mail; The FBI and state
attorneys general usually get the credit for ferreting out financial fraud.
But there's an elite unit that doesn't get much notice--and they work for
the U.S. Postal Service." Financial Executive, December 1, 2006, Available:
http://www.allbusiness.com/finance-insurance/3998383-1.html.  

54 Warren, George, "Prescription narcotics vanish from Sacramento post
office," ABC News Release, April 6, 2010, Available:
http://www.news10.net/news/story.aspx?storyid=78845
<http://www.news10.net/news/story.aspx?storyid=78845&catid=2> &catid=2. 

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Prescription Mail Back Pilot Program is
intended to provide an estimated 780,000 veterans in Baltimore, Md.,
Washington, D.C., and West Virginia the opportunity to safely dispose of
expired and unused prescriptions and help the environment. The program is
being administered by the USPS and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
and allows veterans to mail outdated, unwanted medicine to
federally-approved facilities where it is safely destroyed. Veterans receive
specially designed, postage-paid envelopes and instructions with their
prescription fulfillment. Expired and unused pharmaceuticals placed in the
special packaging can be dropped in familiar blue USPS collection boxes or
at post offices. The envelopes are delivered to facilities regulated and
approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and DEA.
Pharmaceuticals from this and other similar mail-back initiatives are
destroyed in accordance with EPA and DEA standards, including cataloguing
and use of incineration, chemical or thermal processes.17 

17 Drug Take-Back Network, Postal Service Expands Prescription Mail Back,
April 8, 2010 Accessed on September 15, 2010
http://www.takebacknetwork.com/news_t.php#  

Last I heard, Sharps Compliance mailers go straight to the incinerator with
a law enforcement witness.  Many program managers would like to be able to
use common carriers to cut down on costs but are not allowed at least in
California.  

Cheri, I hadn't seen your "How Medicine Take-Back Works" site before - very
nice.  

Mr. Burke Lucy

Integrated Waste Management Specialist

Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle)

1001 I Street, PO Box 4025

Sacramento, CA 95812

Burke.Lucy at CalRecycle.ca.gov

916.341.6592 

From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us
[mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Grasso, Cheri
Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2011 9:03 AM
To: 'Jeff Hollar'; 'Stevan Gressitt'; 'pharmwaste'; 'rxnews'
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] Fwd: Google Alert - unused medicine disposal

Jeff, I agree that diversion can also happen with a mailback program.  What
we have found in Washington is that following strict protocols prevents
diversion - here is more information on how these protocols work:
http://www.takebackyourmeds.org/why/how-medicine-take-back-works 

Cheri

Cheri Grasso 

Pharmaceuticals Project 

Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County

130 Nickerson Street, Suite 100 | Seattle, WA  98109 | 206-263-3089

Local Governments for Health and the Environment www.lhwmp.org 

Protect our Kids, Families, the Environment  www.takebackyourmeds.org

From: Jeff Hollar [mailto:jhollar at pwaste.com] 
Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2011 6:54 AM
To: 'Stevan Gressitt'; 'pharmwaste'; 'rxnews'
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] Fwd: Google Alert - unused medicine disposal

Regarding mailback programs:  What about the potential of theft in transit?
Mailmen, sorters, etc.  What controls in place to 100% eliminate this?  If
someone diverts one mail back pouch, will this be caught?  What if someone
opens one up and takes 5 pills from a bottle?  What if someone puts the mail
back pouch in their mailbox and it gets swiped before the mailman picks it
up?  How do the various mailback programs address these diversion issues?  

On a related note, I am aware of at least one mailback program that is not
permitted to take back DEA controlled substances.  Obviously DEA controls
will make it through.  What happens when this mailback program facility
receives DEA controls?  How can this even be monitored if the container
contents being shipped are not 100% examined?

Regarding disposal:  If these pharmaceuticals came from a non-household
entity, the RCRA waste would likely have to be segregated and destroyed in a
RCRA incinerator.  What is the typical disposal method used in mailback
programs?  WTE Incinerator, RCRA Incinerator, autoclave, landfilled?

I would like to learn more about the issues I raised above.  Can those of
you involved with the various mailback programs shed some light on these
questions?  

Warmest Regards,

Jeff Hollar

President

PharmWaste Technologies, Inc.

4164 NW Urbandale Dr., Ste A

Urbandale, IA 50322

515-276-5302 (general)

515-331-7310 (direct)

515-360-9785 (cell)

 <http://www.pwaste.com/> www.pwaste.com

From: Stevan Gressitt [mailto:gressitt at gmail.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, July 05, 2011 5:55 PM
To: pharmwaste; rxnews
Subject: [Pharmwaste] Fwd: Google Alert - unused medicine disposal

Mailback would have precluded this problem

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Google Alerts <googlealerts-noreply at google.com>
Date: Tue, Jul 5, 2011 at 5:43 PM
Subject: Google Alert - unused medicine disposal
To: gressitt at gmail.com

News

1 new result for unused medicine disposal

<http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/news/635804
5-418/accused-yorkville-officer-takes-unpaid-leave.html&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIA
AoATAAOABA5YrO8ARIAVAAWABiBWVuLVVT&cd=506Kb9rPxRU&usg=AFQjCNHLWhpF3cML2daOKm
UAOJ3ZsIiQng> Accused Yorkville officer takes unpaid leave
Chicago Sun-Times
Prosecutors claim that Delaney took prescription medicine for his personal
use from the supplies turned in by residents as part of an unused medication
disposal program. He is scheduled to make his first appearance in court
today. ...

<http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://news.google.com/news/story%3Fncl%3D
http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/news/6358045-418/accused-yorkville-officer-ta
kes-unpaid-leave.html%26hl%3Den%26geo%3Dus&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoBjAAOABA5Yr
O8ARIAVAAWABiBWVuLVVT&cd=506Kb9rPxRU&usg=AFQjCNFzJphdvxpixG92roh6mgxa275I4A>
See all stories on this topic >

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-- 

Stevan Gressitt, M.D.
Faculty Associate, University of Maine Center on Aging
Academic Member, Athens Institute for Education and Research

Athens, Greece

Founding Director, International Institute for Pharmaceutical Safety
University of New England, College of Pharmacy
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences 
Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry
University of New England, College of Osteopathic Medicine
716 Stevens Avenue 
Portland, Maine 04103
gressitt at gmail.com  
Cell: 207-441-0291 

www.benzos.une.edu <http://www.benzos.une.edu/>  

www.safemeddisposal.com <http://www.safemeddisposal.com/>  

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