[Pharmwaste] RE: safe disposal of home-generated chemo waste

Janet Brown jbrown at practicegreenhealth.org
Tue Oct 1 17:42:23 EDT 2013


Hi;



I saw this at a recent exhibit hall for a health care sustainability
event.  This is not an endorsement.



Janet



http://pharma-cycle.com/



*Janet Brown, EDAC*

*Director of  Facility Engagement*



866/598-2110

www.practicegreenhealth.org

Linked in Profile:
http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=39452472&trk=tab_pro



[image: cid:image001.jpg at 01CC2055.65DC57F0]









*From:* pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us [mailto:
pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] *On Behalf Of *Volkman, Jennifer
(MPCA)
*Sent:* Tuesday, October 01, 2013 5:38 PM
*To:* pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
*Subject:* RE: [Pharmwaste] RE: safe disposal of home-generated chemo waste



I suppose I could relax a bit. My mother-in-law knew nothing about the
dangers and she was taking chemo at home with three grandchildren. I've
gotten a couple of other calls from people who claimed they weren't told
anything about it. Who knows if the rest of the details had them so
kerfuffled that they couldn't focus on disposal, of all things. I also
received a call from a nurse at a cancer clinic that was demanding to know
why I didn't think people could put chemo waste (iv bags with sharps) in
the pharm collection bins. She was first talking about sharps, then I asked
what they were connected to...she said she'd try to help and to convince
the clinic management to take them back...or provide something else for
guidance.



I'm glad you know there are people who are helpful. I would hope the
majority would be. The other disappointment is that I've tried to get a
recommendation from the board of pharmacy for a unified message on what to
do with unused chemo and the associated clean up materials because we don't
want them in the collection bins. I want the pharmacies, hospitals and
clinics to manage or direct this. We'll collect the rest of the pharms
through public bins. But to date, no unified message is available for MN
residents.



If anyone has a success story along the lines of healthcare helping provide
a solution, I'd be excited to hear about it. Oh, maybe that was Laurie's
question :)
------------------------------

*From:* Jan Harris [jharris at sharpsinc.com]
*Sent:* Tuesday, October 01, 2013 4:17 PM
*To:* Volkman, Jennifer (MPCA)
*Cc:* Tenace, Laurie; pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
*Subject:* Re: [Pharmwaste] RE: safe disposal of home-generated chemo waste

We have home infusion customers who provide safety measures and training
for any chemo being infused in the home, including proper disposal (not
trashed) for trace/residual as well as bulk amounts of unused medication.
The disposal is provided as a part of their service, and not charged
additionally. So some are doing a good job, but agree that not all are.


On Oct 1, 2013, at 4:00 PM, "Volkman, Jennifer (MPCA)" <
jennifer.volkman at state.mn.us> wrote:

OMG THIS IRRITATES ME!  There are some pill forms of chemo that are not
extremely toxic, but I've run across a list of the really toxic stuff.
Either way, I shouldn't have to find that for you or you for me!!!



People are being sent home with extremely toxic medicine to administer with
little or NO guidance from the medical profession on how to deal with it.
With some medications, you are not able to touch family members because it
comes out of your pores. You can't share or clean a bathroom without
exposure. Towels and bedding cannot be washed and reused. You can't put
this waste in the trash without some potential exposure to garbage
handlers! It should go back to the hospital. OR people should be in the
hospital where they belong for a time period after it is administered?!



There is a kit on line that people can purchase for several hundred dollars
and if I were forced by the insurance agencies to do home chemo of one of
the really toxic varieties, I'd buy it and use it. I think they did an
excellent job. But is this the only answer?  Shouldn't you be issued some
of the stuff in this kit if you are sent home with chemo?



First off, the medical community needs to step up. The doctor that sent
them home with the stuff needs to give out very detailed instructions and
provide an answer to that question. We should not have to answer this
question from a voluntary list serve. That is crazy.



I don't know what to say because it should not go in the trash and it is
unlikely the hospital or clinic would take it back.
------------------------------

*From:* pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us [
pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] on behalf of Tenace, Laurie [
Laurie.Tenace at dep.state.fl.us]
*Sent:* Tuesday, October 01, 2013 10:09 AM
*To:* pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
*Subject:* [Pharmwaste] safe disposal of home-generated chemo waste

Does anyone have any recommended practices for homeowners to safely dispose
of chemotherapy contaminated materials like bedpans, wipes, gloves? In
other words, what they generate when doing chemo at home other than
possible drug waste.



Thanks,

Laurie



Laurie Tenace

Environmental Specialist

Waste Reduction Section

Florida Department of Environmental Protection

2600 Blair Stone Road, MS 4555

Tallahassee, FL 32399-2400

850.245.8759

Laurie.Tenace at dep.state.fl.us





*Please take a few minutes to share your comments on the service you
received from the department by clicking on this link DEP Customer
Survey<http://survey.dep.state.fl.us/?refemail=Laurie.Tenace@dep.state.fl.us>
.*

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Jan Harris | Director, Environmental Health & Safety



Sharps Compliance, Inc.
d-713-927-9956



jharris at sharpsinc.com | http://www.sharpsinc.com





*[COLLECT/PROTECT/RESPECT]*
Sharps Compliance repurposed an estimated *758* million syringes into a
material powering over 250 homes per year and collected *320,000* pounds of
unused medications, reducing potential harm to citizens and the earth.

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