[Pharmwaste] RE: Pharmacy receptacles for unused meds

[Watson, Taylor]

In Washington State we have 75 pharmacies that collect unwanted medicines from residents.  Group Health Cooperative, a large HMO, has return bins in all of their 25 pharmacies that operate clinics in the state.  Bartell Drugs, a retail pharmacy chain in the Puget Sound region, offer medicine returns at 24 of their 57 locations.  Other pharmacies collecting medicines are individual, grocery store and retail store pharmacies.  These take-back programs can accept all over-the-counter medicines and prescription medicines, except those that are controlled substances (current federal regulations allow only law enforcement to collect controlled substances).  No sharps, biohazardous or personal care products are accepted.

Group Health Cooperative - residents dispose of unwanted medicines into a secure metal bin typically located in the pharmacy waiting area.  Medicines drop into a plastic bucket inside the bin.  When the buckets are full, they are sealed and transported to a Group Health facility for screening, consolidation, then transported to a high temperature incinerator.  Group Health has been accepting unwanted medicines since late 2006, and has collected over 75,000 pounds to date.

Bartell Drugs - Bartell Drugs sites also use secure metal bins for residents to deposit unwanted medicines.  Medicines drop into a lined cardboard box - when full they're sealed and transported to a Bartell warehouse for pick-up by a hazardous waste disposal company where they are trucked to a hazardous waste incinerator for disposal.
Bartell Drugs have been collecting unwanted medicines since mid-2008 and have collected nearly 25,000 pounds to date.

Both of these pharmacy based programs operate using highly secure protocols with no instances of diversion.  The programs are very popular with the public and the pharmacy staff that operate them.

To find out more specifics on medicine take-back in Washington go to http://www.takebackyourmeds.org/why/how-medicine-take-back-works

Taylor Watson
Pharmaceuticals Project Lead
Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County
130 Nickerson Street, Suite 100, Seattle, WA  98109
taylor.watson at kingcounty.gov | w:206-263-3072 | c:206-245-5628
Local Governments for Health and the Environment www.lhwmp.org<www.lhwmp.org%20>
Protect our Kids, Families, the Environment  www.takebackyourmeds.org



From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us [mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Jaramillo, Jeanie
Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2012 7:55 AM
To: 'pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us'
Cc: 'banachg at upstate.edu'; Farrar, Ronica
Subject: [Pharmwaste] Pharmacy receptacles for unused meds

Hello All,

I have a colleague who is asking:

"Is anyone aware of any existing pharmacy(ies) currently using receptacles at their sites to collect medications through take back efforts?"

If you are aware of any of these, would you please reply.  I think it would also be helpful to include any special conditions, like 'are controls accepted', sharps, etc or maybe just 'what is prohibited'?.

Her email address is on the cc line if you would prefer to email her directly.

Jeanie Jaramillo, PharmD
Managing Director, Texas Panhandle Poison Center
Director, Medication Cleanout
Assistant Professor, Texas Tech UHSC School of Pharmacy
1501 S. Coulter St.
Amarillo, TX 79106
P: (806) 354-1611
C: (806) 672-0833
F: (806) 354-1667
Cisco IP: 30412

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