[Pharmwaste] Does activated carbon treatment meet "non-retrievable" standard?

[Jan Harris]

I’m not speaking to the effectiveness of any product to degrade drugs, however, I think it’s important to remember that products sold to an ultimate user to destroy her OWN medications at home are not regulated under the DEA rule; just like vinegar or soft drinks which can also be bought by the consumer and used to destroy their drugs before putting into the trash. So I’m not sure why DEA is being referenced in the attachment. These products really have nothing to do with the rule unless they are being used by a registrant to destroy drugs. As the rule summary states, “These regulations will implement the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010 by expanding the options available to collect controlled substances from ultimate users for the purpose of disposal, including: Take-back events, mail-back programs, and collection receptacle locations.” The purpose was to give ultimate users (and LTC) options to “hand off” the drugs for destruction other than putting them the trash or sewer.

Thanks,

Jan Harris, MPH
Director, EHS
Sharps Compliance
jharris at sharpsinc.com<mailto:jharris at sharpsinc.com>
713-927-9956







Jan Harris | Director, Environmental Health & Safety

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

jharris at sharpsinc.com | <mailto:jharris at 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 Ed Gottlieb
Sent: Monday, April 13, 2015 10:31 AM
To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: [Pharmwaste] Does activated carbon treatment meet "non-retrievable" standard?

Hi All,

In response to inquires regarding destruction products, today I received the attached letter.  It has URLs to a number of studies that show activated carbon in general or the medsaway product in particular work as advertized, given enough hours.

I noted they were written by one of the companies principles or the study was funded by the manufacturer.  Two were presented at conferences.  I wrote back to ask if any have been published in a peer reviewed journal.

Phoned a large activated carbon supplier (buyactivatedcharcoal.com) and they were quite convincing, that once pharmaceuticals bind to the activated carbon, they can't be extracted.  The knowledgeable person I spoke with will follow-up with their expert and send me any published studies they can find that would support this conclusion.
Will pass on what I receive.
Ed Gottlieb
Chair, Coalition for Safe Medication Disposal
Industrial Pretreatment Coordinator
Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility
525 3rd Street
Ithaca, NY  14850
(607) 273-8381
fax: (607) 273-8433

[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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