[Pharmwaste] 5:45 drug waste to packaging ratio

Catherine Zimmer zenllc at usfamily.net
Fri Feb 5 09:48:54 EST 2016


Consider, if we pursued and achieved source reduction, the amount of packaging waste and pollution we would reduce,too.  Generally speaking, reducing one ton of paper/plastic eliminates TWO tons of greenhouse gases (based on EPA's WARM calculator).  Not to mention other resources such as water, chemicals and source materials.  

Thanks for the data, Chris.  

Very truly yours,

Catherine Zimmer, MS, BSMT
Zimmer Environmental Improvement, LLC
Reducing and managing healthcare related waste and costs for fifteen years.  
St. Paul, MN 
Ph:  651.645.7509
zenllc at usfamily.net

-----Original Message-----
From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us [mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Heidi Sanborn
Sent: Friday, February 05, 2016 8:22 AM
To: info at greatlakescleanwater.org; LloydMagothy WaterTrust; pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] 5:45 drug waste to packaging ratio

No matter what the exact amount of packaging, it’s a lot. That is why we ask that packaging be removed and recycled at home and pills in baggies with only creams and liquids be put in bins in the original packaging.  Packaging wastes enormous amount of space therefore adding to the cost of the program and more drips so environmental costs too.   You can see our messaging   www.dontrushtoflush.org 

How Does It Work?
Follow these 3 easy steps:

    At home, remove, scratch off or black-out personal information from the containers to protect your identity.
    Just before drop-off, remove pills from the original container, place in a clear zipper bag, and recycle the container. Keep liquids and creams in original containers.
    Bring zipper bag and any liquids/creams to a Don’t Rush to Flush location and place in the bin – It’s that easy!

Note: Medications should remain in the original child-proof container until just prior to drop-off.

Heidi

********************************************************************
Heidi Sanborn, Executive Director
(916) 706-3420  office  (916) 402-3911 cell  Heidi at CalPSC.org  
        
Web    YouTube    Facebook    Twitter    Linked In
*********************************************************************



-----Original Message-----
From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us [mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Yellow Jug Old Drugs Account Support
Sent: Friday, February 5, 2016 5:56 AM
To: LloydMagothy WaterTrust <lloydmagothy at gmail.com>; pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: Re: [Pharmwaste] 5:45 drug waste to packaging ratio

Tom and All,

I was asked recently by Tom McAbee and Ed Gottleib how we arrived at the ratios of Rx-Waste 10% Vs Packaging 90% when collecting both. Since this item is crucial in keeping costs low when planning for Rx-Collection Programs I'm sharing with the List Serve.

Its' quite a simple process to determine volume and weight of packaging to Rx-Waste. In our case over the years we've had garbage bags of medications come into pharmacies that participate in the Yellow Jug Old Drugs Program. In these cases the the controlled were separated out returned to customer(this was before the DEA regs allowed collection of controlled) then the Drug waste was removed from packaging. What we ended up with was 90% packaging and 10% Drug waste We also had the opportunity to partner with several groups conducting collection events where they ended up with garbage bags of collected drug waste. We found a minimum of 90% packing here as well.

Since our experience was not "absolutley scientific" ;=) we decided to take a very conservative approach in our weight comparisons and cut the 90% nearly in half arriving at the 5 to 1 estimate in our comparison.

I have found this List Serve to be a very valuable tool to share information, learn from others and to help educate as we work together to increase opportunities for proper and safe disposal of unused/unwanted drugs.

Chris Angel, President
GLCW/USCW


---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: [Pharmwaste] 5:45 drug waste to packaging ratio
From:    "LloydMagothy WaterTrust" <lloydmagothy at gmail.com>
Date:    Fri, February 5, 2016 7:26 am
To:      info at greatlakescleanwater.org
Cc:      pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Dear Mr. Angel,
> The Yellow Jug Old Drugs comparative economic analysis (jug system 
> without packaging v. box system with packaging) states that a 50 pound 
> box "will collect approximately 5 pounds of drug waste and 45 pounds 
> of recyclable packaging."  I would greatly appreciate it if you would 
> share with us the
data source which substantiates the 5:45 ratio that you use to conclude that drug disposal cost of a 50 pound box is $25.00 per pound.  Thank you.> Sincerely,
>
> Thomas O. McAbee
> Executive Director
> Lloyd Magothy Water Trust, Inc.
> 1 Bauer Dr.
> Southampton, NY 11968
>
> 631-353-3435 Office
> 631-353-3436 FAX
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Yellow Jug Old Drugs Account Support 
> [mailto:info at greatlakescleanwater.org]
> Sent: Thursday, February 4, 2016 3:24 PM
> To: LloydMagothy WaterTrust <lloydmagothy at gmail.com>
> Cc: info at greatlakescleanwater.org; pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
> Subject: [Pharmwaste] Secure Responsible Drug Act reverse Distributor
>
> Lloyd and Pharmwaste List serve
>
> Thank You for your interest in the Yellow Jug Old Drugs Program. In 
> the operation of the Yellow Jug Old Drugs Program, Great Lakes Clean 
> Water adheres to all regulations of the Secure and Responsible Drug 
> Act that pertain to collection of controlled substances at retail 
> pharmacies, transportation
of and ultimate destruction of collected substances.This is a requirement to be licensed by the DEA as a Reverse Distributor.> The regulations do allow for shipping Rx-Waste via Common Carrier. Our program does utilize this method as well.
>
> While some additional financial burden may be incurred to comply with 
> all regulations this in our opinion should not be a deterrent. Doing 
> the right thing is never easy or inexpensive. However we do our best 
> to keep costs as low as we can to encourage more pharmacies to 
> participate. If you believe
in our cause donations are always welcome and accepted to help keep our cost to pharmacies as low as possible.> Chris Angel, President GLCW USCW
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------- Original Message
> ----------------------------
> Subject: [Pharmwaste] DEA's Two Employee Protocol during Transportation
> From:    "LloydMagothy WaterTrust" <lloydmagothy at gmail.com>
> Date:    Thu, February 4, 2016 9:52 am
> To:      info at greatlakescleanwater.org
>          pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> ----
>
>> Dear Yellow Jug Old Drugs,
>>
>> With regard to the "in person, on-site collection": Does Great Lakes Clean Water Organization (a reverse distributor and the "transporting registrant") utilize the "two employee protocol" as required by the DEA under Section 1317.95(b)(2) and Section 1317.95(c)(2)?  The "two employee protocol"
> during transportation is an economic obstacle for registrants to 
> engage in the transportation of sealed inner liners.  Transportation 
> of sealed inner liners is one of the costlier line items in the 
> comparative economic analysis of medication disposal.  Would you 
> comment?>
>> Tom McAbee
>> Executive Director
>> Lloyd Magothy Water Trust, Inc.
>> 1 Bauer Drive
>> Southampton, NY 11968
>> 631-353-3435
>> tommcabee at gmail.com
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Yellow Jug Old Drugs Account Support 
>> [mailto:info at greatlakescleanwater.org]
>> Sent: Wednesday, February 3, 2016 4:40 PM
>> To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
>> Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] Amended DEA-Registrations Allowing for 
>> Controlled Substance Collection Reverse Distributor
>>
>> Heidi and all. See below re Reverse Distributor and low cost, effective approach.
>>
>> Great Lakes Clean Water Organization is the newest of the 27 Reverse 
>> Distributors in the US.The goal of Great Lakes Clean Water/US Clean 
>> Water is to provide the most cost effective Rx-waste collection 
>> program in the country to engage a maximum number of people in proper 
>> Rx-waste disposal to help
> keep our water clean.>
>> The mission of GLCW is to promote the collection and disposal of 
>> unused/unwanted drugs in a safe and approved manner. This will keep 
>> harmful effects of drugs out of ground water, surface water and 
>> municipal water systems in Michigan and the Great Lakes region.Proper 
>> disposal of unused/unwanted
> drugsis also a key weapon in the fight against misuse of prescription 
> drugs.>
>> The Yellow Jug Old Drugs program is available in many states. Our standard program cost is $300 per pharmacy unlimited weight. This price includes in person, on-site collection. To help meet the demand for Rx-Waste disposal across the country we are now offering an on-demand, mail-back system.
> When a sufficient number of locations are participating in a region we 
> intend to convert to our standard model of in-person, on site 
> collection unlimited weight as this is the most cost effective 
> approach for the program and for participating pharmacies.> Cost 
> Comparison Yellow Jug Old Drugs
On-Demand System to A Box System Yellow Jug Old Drugs On-Demand Cost $125 includes all shipping.>> •        1 Jug will collect 25 pounds of drug waste
>> •        Collects Only Drug Waste Not Packaging
>> •        Packaging including plastic, glass, cardboard, paper is recycled locally by the consumer.
>> •        Space saving the jug and lockable container dimensions just 10” x 10” x 12”
>> •        Safe and Secure- Rx-Waste is dissolved in gel making them irretrievable and unusable.
>> •        Can accept liquids, ointments, creams in any amount. Controlled if location registers with DEA
>> •        Safe and Secure Each jug is scanned and tracked. Rx-waste is completely destroyed by incineration
>> •        The most cost-effective, space saving, environmentally responsible, safe and secure method
>> Cost per pound est. $5.00
>>
>> A Box system Cost of 1 -50 lb box  est.$150.00
>> •        Collects Drugs Waste Plus all Packaging.
>> •        Packaging should be recycled and not collected. Only Rx waste should be collected
>> •        A 20 gal 50 pound box will contain approx. 1/10 drug waste and 9/10 Packaging
>> •        Large box and container 24” x 24” x 36” takes up lots of space. est cost $900-$1000
>> •        1 box will collect approx. 5 pounds of drug waste 45 pounds of recyclable packaging.
>> •        Amount of liquid medication is limited
>> Cost per pound est. $25.00
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
>
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>
>
>
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