[Pharmwaste] Per pound cost of disposal technologies?

Wed Mar 8 15:48:37 EST 2017

Chris,
Is your $3/lb cost based on commercial haulers charging $3/lb at pharmacies, because our costs are $0.25 to $1.5/lb. for law enforcement. I haven't asked pharmacies here what they pay. Also, our hands on study showed that 33% of the weight is packaging vs. 80%, so I'm curious on the origin of that. Also, do people squirt the gels and creams into the box or do those packages go in whole? I am guessing you included transportation, but not positive?

I'm digging more into the total box costs, but it looks like Ed's $2-$5 range is right on. There will likely also be a difference in MN between what pharmacies pay vs. law enforcement who can self-haul to incinerators in MN.

Self-dispose and mail back bags are definitely most expensive, but those that go for incineration are a decent option for those who can't drive or don't have other collection available or have just a few pills. 

Thanks for the information Ed and Chris! As Heidi noted earlier, how much disposal could be covered by $100 million? Looks like 20 to 240 million pounds using YJOD to highest cost bins! We collected 100,000 gross lbs last year in MN...I don't see us going above 150,000, but that's a guess based on the projected collection framework. TOO MUCH!!!  

-----Original Message-----
From: Pharmwaste [mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Chris Angel
Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2017 12:06 PM
To: Ed Gottlieb <EGottlieb at cityofithaca.org>
Cc: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: Re: [Pharmwaste] Per pound cost of disposal technologies?

We recently did a cost analysis based on the average weights we collected in the Yellow Jug Old Drugs Program.

See attachment.

  The primary factors the Yellow Jug Old Drugs Program is considerably less expensive is the not for profit model and the fact that we do not collect product packaging(Rx-waste only)

Chris Angel

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 make it affordable for Pharmacies to help customers properly dispose of Rx-Waste.

Cost Comparison Yellow Jug Old Drugs Program Based on Average weight of
150 lbs. of Rx-Waste. Average weight is calculated from 2008-2016.
Yellow Jug Old Drugs Program
•	1 Jug will collect 25 pounds of drug waste 6 Jugs x 25 lbs.=150 lbs.
•	Collects Only Drug Waste Not Packaging
•	Packaging including plastic, glass, cardboard, paper is recycled 
locally by the consumer.
•	Space saving the jug9x9x12” and lockable container dimensions just 
12x12x14”
•	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 to collect 125 lbs.                                                 
                                 $300
Controlled Substance Container size   Space saving design (optional)     
                                 $150

Box system Cost of 1 -50 lb box $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. 80% packaging waste
•	*1 box will collect approx. 10 pounds of drug waste 40 pounds of 
recyclable packaging.
•	Large box and container 24” x 24” x 36” takes up lots of space
•	Amount of liquid medication is limited
Cost to collect 125 lbs. requires 11-50 lb. boxes @$150.00 each =        
                            $1,650.00
Even if the pharmacy collects half of the average the cost would be      
                              $825.00
Controlled Substance Cabinet size 30”x30”x48” (optional)                 
                            $1,100.00

On 2017-03-08 09:54, Ed Gottlieb wrote:
> Looking to compare the typical cost per pound of various disposal 
> technologies.
> Please help by filling in the gaps and correcting any errors.  Thanks!
> 
> Most box based take-back programs fall in the $2-5/pound range.
> 
> Need cost per pound number(s) for mail back programs!
> 
> In-home disposal pouches list their capacity by the number of pills.
> To get a cost/pound an average weight for a dose of medication is 
> needed.  Have you calculated this?  Need it for total weight, not 
> active ingredients only, and without packaging.  Thanks!
> 
> Wiki says that pills/capsules typically contain 5-10% active 
> ingredients.
> A pharmacist I called had no clue about the average weight of active 
> ingredients or total dose weight.
> 
> Plowing ahead to get a ball park number...
> My lab scale puts the wight of a 200 mg IBU pill at 0.315 gm.
> Retail price (Deterra, multiple vendors) for a pouch that holds 45 
> pills = $6.50
> 45 x 0.315 gm = 14.175 gm =  0.0313 pounds @ $6.50 = $207.67/pound If 
> the bulk wholesale price is 1/3 less, then $138.44/pound
> 
> Thanks for your assistance!
> 
> Ed Gottlieb
> 
> Chair, Coalition for Safe Medication Disposal Board Member, New York 
> Product Stewardship Council
> 
> Industrial Pretreatment Coordinator
> Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility
> 525 3rd Street
> Ithaca, NY  14850
> (607) 273-8381
> fax: (607) 273-8433
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Chris angel, President

www.GreatLakes-US-CleanWater.org

www.YellowJugOldDrugsProgram.com