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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265475519-14092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>Michele:</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265475519-14092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265475519-14092007><FONT face=Arial><FONT
color=#0000ff><FONT size=2>If you haven't done so already, check with the
Florida DEP and the local sewer authority<SPAN class=984245719-14092007> to see
what their rules are concerning sewage
discharges.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265475519-14092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265475519-14092007><FONT face=Arial><FONT
color=#0000ff><FONT size=2>Here in CT, any discharge of a substance other
than septage to the sewer requires approval from the local sewer
authority <SPAN class=984245719-14092007>AND</SPAN> a permit from
the <SPAN class=984245719-14092007>CT</SPAN> DEP. For many years, our
state permitting staff were unaware of this practice, until recently<SPAN
class=984245719-14092007>, when a release from a long-term care facility caused
the local wastewater treatment plant to fail. What happened was
that </SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></SPAN><SPAN
class=265475519-14092007><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=984245719-14092007>an adult diaper shredder at the faculty became clogged,
and a large amount of effluent from the facility backed up in it; when the clog
was cleared, the pharmaceutical-laden sewage hit the treatment plant all at once
and killed the beneficial bacteria that aid in the digestion of the
sewage.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265475519-14092007><FONT face=Arial><FONT
color=#0000ff><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=984245719-14092007></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265475519-14092007><FONT face=Arial><FONT
color=#0000ff><FONT size=2><SPAN class=984245719-14092007>Following this
incident our water permitting folks have become very interested in the issue of
disposal of drugs down the drain, and are working with other staff at the CT DEP
to stop the practice statewide.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265475519-14092007><FONT face=Arial><FONT
color=#0000ff><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=984245719-14092007></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265475519-14092007><FONT face=Arial><FONT
color=#0000ff><FONT size=2><SPAN class=984245719-14092007>Another point to
consider: if any of the long-term care facilities are NOT on local sewer,
but are instead discharge their sewage to an engineered septic system, there may
be rules in Florida regarding the types of wastes that can be discharged to such
systems. Here in Connecticut, such systems may only receive septic and
associated wastewaters, and not chemical wastes of any kind (e.g.
pharmaceuticals).</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265475519-14092007><FONT face=Arial><FONT
color=#0000ff><FONT size=2><SPAN class=984245719-14092007><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT
face=Arial size=2></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265475519-14092007><FONT face=Arial><FONT
color=#0000ff><FONT size=2><SPAN class=984245719-14092007><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT
face=Arial size=2>- - Ross Bunnell, CT DEP</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN
lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial size=2>Bureau of Materials Management and</FONT>
<FONT face=Arial size=2>Compliance Assurance</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN
lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial size=2>Waste Engineering & Enforcement
Division</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial size=2>79 Elm
Street</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hartford, CT
06106-5127</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial size=2>Tel. (860)
424-3274 Fax (860) 424-4059</FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left>
<P><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial size=2>Disclaimer: Any views
expressed in this email represent only the sender's personal opinion based on
his knowledge and experience with the DEP, and in no way should be considered a
formal ruling by the Department. It is always the obligation of a
generator or other handler of waste to be familiar with and to comply with all
applicable state and federal
requirements.</FONT></SPAN></P></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV></DIV><BR>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> pharmwaste-bounces@lists.dep.state.fl.us
[mailto:pharmwaste-bounces@lists.dep.state.fl.us] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Michele
Berger<BR><B>Sent:</B> Friday, September 14, 2007 3:33 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us<BR><B>Subject:</B> [Pharmwaste] Long term care
drug disposal<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif">
<DIV>When I started at my long term care pharmacy, all
discontinued drugs were being flushed. I immediately got in touch
with a reverse distributor to have them disposed of properly. For many
months I have been encouraging the owner of our pharmacy to become more
pro-active in discontinued drug disposal in our homes, including
narcotics. Yesterday a surveyor was at one of our homes and insisted that
our policies be changed to state "All discontinued narcotics are to be flushed
down the toilet". After I have the owner so close to making the disposal a
consultant pharmacist responsibility, I have been foiled again. I
understand it isn't easy to change a set idea but when options are there and you
aren't allowed to use them it becomes
extremely frustrating! </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Can anyone tell me where to find, in Florida law, that flushing meds
down a toilet is more regulated than a DEA transfer? Not to mention better
for the environment! </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Michele Berger</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></DIV><BR>
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