<div>I would expect the actual weight to be much more. In a soon to be published study, the University of Florida estimated that just the active pharm ingredients accounted for almost 1/3 of this number. So I would actually expect this number to be much larger.</div> <div> </div> <div>As for estimating trucks or landfill space, you need to estimate the density of these materials. General mixed trash in a landfill is about 1200 lbs/cubic yard. In a typical 30 cubic yard waste truck it is 600 to 700 lbs/cubic yard. <BR></div> <div> </div> <div><BR><B><I>gressitt@uninets.net</I></B> wrote:</div> <BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">I'm curious as to the specific source for the 4,600 tons?<BR>Stevan Gressitt, M.D.<BR>207-441-0291<BR>www.mainebenzo.org<BR><BR><BR>> I am starting a pilot take-back program with a local pharmacy and in<BR>>
creating the brochure, I was using the following statement "Each year<BR>> approximately 4,600 tons of pharmaceuticals and personal care products<BR>> enter the waste stream."<BR>><BR>> While this is a very large number, it doesn't give people the visual I was<BR>> hoping for. Most medications are very lightweight and I imagine the<BR>> volume is more impressive than the actual weight. Does anyone know the<BR>> volume of 4,600 tons of pharmaceuticals and personal care products?<BR>><BR>> I was wondering how many garbage trucks that fills?<BR>> How many football fields?<BR>> Anyone know of something equal volume-wise that people can visualize?<BR>><BR>> Thanks for your help!<BR>><BR>> Marta Keane, Recycling Program Specialist<BR>> Will County Land Use - Waste Services<BR>> 58 E. Clinton Street, Suite 500<BR>> Joliet, IL 60432<BR>> 815-774-4343<BR>> mkeane@willcountylanduse.com<BR>> Recycle at home and at
work!<BR>> _______________________________________________<BR>> Pharmwaste mailing list<BR>> Pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us<BR>> http://lists.dep.state.fl.us/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/pharmwaste<BR>><BR><BR><BR>-- <BR>Stevan Gressitt, M.D.<BR>207-441-0291<BR>www.mainebenzo.org<BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>Pharmwaste mailing list<BR>Pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us<BR>http://lists.dep.state.fl.us/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/pharmwaste<BR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR><BR>Stephen Musson, CHMM, CIH<br>PhD Candidate<br>University of Florida<br>Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences<br>PO Box 116450<br>Gainesville, FL 32611-6450<br>(352)846-3035