[Pharmwaste] Rite Aid now partnered with Sharp'sComplianceCorporation to sell drug mail back envelopes

Wed Mar 16 10:55:25 EDT 2011

Jan, 

            I appreciate you taking the time to provide this
clarification.   Please keep us informed if the Sharps Compliance
TakeAway program should expand to include controlled substances.   

Deborah L. DeBiasi, Virginia DEQ 
Office of Water Permit and Compliance Assistance Programs
Email:   Deborah.DeBiasi at deq.virginia.gov
PH:         804-698-4028

From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us
[mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Jan
Harris
Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2011 10:09 AM
To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] Rite Aid now partnered with
Sharp'sComplianceCorporation to sell drug mail back envelopes

After reading a number of continued posts regarding the Sharps
Compliance TakeAway(tm) envelopes being provided by a variety of
healthcare professionals and transported by USPS, I thought it might be
helpful to respond. Sharps Compliance has worked with USPS since 1994
regarding mailing of sharps and other regulated medical waste. USPS and
Sharps Compliance developed the initial envelope system and released it
with great success. USPS and Sharps Compliance elected to improve
envelop securities, not as a result of any failure, but as a part of
constant product improvement. That is why revised packaging measures
where applied. Neither Sharps Compliance nor any of the pharmacies
providing systems were ever asked to recall any envelopes. The envelopes
were already approved as safe - USPS simply wanted to make the envelop
even better. The new USPS-approved envelopes where re-launched in
January 2011 to continue to provide an inexpensive, convenient source
reduction method to keep unused meds and OTCs out of our water and
landfills.  It has been painful to see so much misinformation and
speculation surrounding this program. If you have any additional
questions regarding this option for patient med disposal, please feel
free to contact Sharps Compliance directly.

Jan Harris | Director, Environmental Health & Safety

Sharps Compliance, Inc.
| m-713-927-9956

jharris at sharpsinc.com <mailto:jharris at sharpsinc.com>  |
http://www.sharpsinc.com <http://www.sharpsinc.com>  

From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us
[mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Lucy,
Burke
Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2011 12:41 PM
To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] Rite Aid now partnered with Sharp's
ComplianceCorporation to sell drug mail back envelopes

I'm wary of speaking for any particular company especially when I see no
public notice but our regional Sharps Compliance sales person e-mailed
me on Oct. 29, 2010 saying sales were temporarily halted pending USPS
evaluation and again on January 7th to say the USPS gave them the okay
to sell the TakeAway mailers again.  This is interesting - now we have
Walgreens selling the mailers for $2.99, Rite Aid for $3.99, and in
California at least 200 Kaiser hospitals selling them for $4.95.  

Burke Lucy

916.341.6592 

From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us
[mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of DeBiasi,
Deborah (DEQ)
Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2011 10:22 AM
To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: [Pharmwaste] Rite Aid now partnered with Sharp's Compliance
Corporation to sell drug mail back envelopes

Last October-November, we had some discussion about Walgreens selling
the drug mail back envelopes from Sharps Compliance, and someone
mentioned that there was a "cease and desist" order on them.  I never
did see a source for that comment.  Does anyone know if there was a
"cease and desist" order on either Walgreens for selling the envelopes,
or Sharps for offering the service?  If there was, what did it affect,
and is it still in effect?  

*********

Rite Aid News

Rite Aid Encourages Customers To Dispose of Medication Safely With New
Medication Disposal Program

Special Envelopes Offer a Safe and Easy Way to Dispose of Prescription
and OTC Medications 

Camp Hill, PA (March 14, 2011) - To help its customers safely dispose of
unused, outdated or unwanted medications, Rite Aid pharmacies now have
specially-designed disposal envelopes available for purchase. Customers
can place unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medications in the
envelope. Once sealed and placed in any U.S. Postal Service mailbox, the
envelope is sent to an approved medication incinerator, where a licensed
law enforcement official oversees the safe and environmentally-friendly
disposal process. Postage is included in the cost of the envelope, which
is $3.99. 

Rite Aid is working with Sharps Compliance Corporation, a leading
full-service provider of cost-effective solutions for disposing of
medical waste and unused medications, to provide the envelopes. 

The envelopes are available at all Rite Aid pharmacies except in Maine,
where another type of disposal program is available. 

"For years, Rite Aid has participated in community medication take-back
events organized by local health officials and law enforcement
agencies," said Dan Miller, Rite Aid Senior Vice President of Pharmacy.
"Our customers often ask how to dispose of medication. By making these
envelopes available in our stores, we're offering an easy and safe
disposal solution for customers looking to safely dispose of expired,
unused or unwanted medications." 

Controlled medications are excluded from this program due to current
federal regulations. 

Rite Aid (NYSE: RAD) is one of the nation's leading drugstore chains
with more than 4,700 stores in 31 states and the District of Columbia
and fiscal 2010 annual revenues of $25.7 billion. Information about Rite
Aid, including corporate background and press releases, is available
through the company's website at www.riteaid.com. 

# # #

Contact:

Media:Ashley Flower 717-975-5718

Deborah L. DeBiasi
Email:   Deborah.DeBiasi at deq.virginia.gov (NEW!)
WEB site address:  www.deq.virginia.gov
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Office of Water Permit and Compliance Assistance Programs
Industrial Pretreatment/Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) Program
PPCPs, EDCs, and Microconstituents
www.deq.virginia.gov/vpdes/microconstituents.html
Mail:          P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA  23218
Location:  629 E. Main Street, Richmond, VA  23219
PH:         804-698-4028
FAX:      804-698-4032 

[COLLECT/PROTECT/RESPECT]
Sharps Compliance prevented the improper disposal of 600 million
syringes from the solid waste stream and 90,000 pounds of unused patient
medications from potentially harming our citizens and the environment.

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