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<DIV><SPAN class=540210315-20022008><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Michelle,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=540210315-20022008><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>I
started a pharmaceutical take-back last year. The Illinois-EPA
offered funding sponsorship and we designed the program to take medications
from the public at pharmacies where technicians could identify <SPAN
class=735590515-20022008>controlled substances from non-controlled. We
worked closely with our EPA to meet the DEA restrictions. You may see
our brochure at:</SPAN></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=540210315-20022008><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=735590515-20022008><A
href="http://www.willcountylanduse.com/WasteServ/Events/Pharm%20Take-Back%20100307.pdf">http://www.willcountylanduse.com/WasteServ/Events/Pharm%20Take-Back%20100307.pdf</A></SPAN></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=540210315-20022008><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=735590515-20022008></SPAN></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=540210315-20022008><FONT><SPAN
class=735590515-20022008></SPAN><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT
size=2><SPAN class=735590515-20022008>The Illinois EPA has provided
collection/disposal funding to several counties in Illinois. Will County
is 849 square miles with nearly 700,000 residents and we want to add more
drop-off locations. At least one other county that is working with the
Illinois-EPA is taking back all pharmaceuticals through a municipal police
department. The police department is charged with the disposal of the
narcotic medications.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=540210315-20022008><FONT><FONT face=Arial><FONT
color=#0000ff><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=735590515-20022008></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=540210315-20022008><FONT><FONT face=Arial><FONT
color=#0000ff><FONT size=2><SPAN class=735590515-20022008>I suggest you contact
your regional EPA office and your county to see if a program that meets the DEA
regulations can be created. It would be a shame to lose your grant when
there are ways to create this
program.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=540210315-20022008><FONT><FONT face=Arial><FONT
color=#0000ff><FONT size=2><SPAN class=735590515-20022008><FONT
face="Times New Roman"
size=2></FONT></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=540210315-20022008><FONT><FONT face=Arial><FONT
color=#0000ff><FONT size=2><SPAN class=735590515-20022008><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=2>Marta Keane, Recycling Program Specialist</FONT>
<BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=2>Will County Land Use - Waste
Services</FONT> <BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=2>58 E. Clinton Street,
Suite 500</FONT> <BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=2>Joliet, IL
60432</FONT> <BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=2>815-774-4343</FONT>
<BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=2>mkeane@willcountylanduse.com</FONT>
<BR><B><FONT face="Script MT Bold">Recycle at home and at work!</FONT></B>
</DIV>
<DIV> </SPAN> </FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> Lauer, Michelle
[mailto:MLauer@Christianacare.org]<BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, February 19, 2008
9:11 AM<BR><B>To:</B> pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us<BR><B>Subject:</B>
[Pharmwaste] Starting a take-back program<BR><BR></FONT></DIV><!-- Converted from text/rtf format -->
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman">Hello:</FONT> <BR><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> I am new to
the list-serve and on the environmental stewardship committee of my hospital.
Recently, we received a grant from DNREC to start a medication take back
program for the community and planned to do so at three out-patient hospital
pharmacies. The plan is to purchase secure, locked bins and for the public to
come during pharmacy hours and dispose of meds. We did not want to exclude
controlled substances, as there would really be no one continuously monitoring
what was dropped in the bins, and of course, we want to collect as much as
possible in order to divert from going down the drain. The DEA has stepped in,
with controlled substance act in hand, and said "NO" - stating that even
if we said, "No controlled substances" the public would not be able to
distinguish and therefore not an option. Also, that controlled substances
cannot be returned to a 'registrant', although no one in the pharmacy would be
handling the meds. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman"> I am
seeking any advice regarding moving forward with our program. How have other
systems or communities navigated this roadblock? Also, what, if anything, is
being done at this time to amend the controlled substance act? What is the
role of the EPA in interfacing with the DEA to advocate for providing waivers
in order to decrease the introduction of<B> all</B> pharmaceuticals into
water? </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman">Thanks!</FONT> </P>
<P><I><FONT face="Comic Sans MS">Michelle Lauer, RN, BSN, BC</FONT></I>
<BR><I><FONT face="Comic Sans MS">Patient Care Coordinator -
Psychiatry</FONT></I> <BR><I><FONT face="Comic Sans MS">428-2117 or pager #
884-9440</FONT></I> </P><BR><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>