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<div style="direction: ltr;font-family: Tahoma;color: #000000;font-size: 10pt;">Lucy,<br>
<br>
Yes, this concern came up in my community. <br>
<br>
There is no problem in recycling almost all prescription bottles as is. We strongly recommend that prescription labels be removed. The only recycling issue is for containers that contain a residue of a P-listed hazardous waste medication (primarily warfarin.)
See below for the EPA's take on this, issued in Nov 2011.<br>
<br>
It is fine for folks to mix all their pills in a sealed plastic bag for drop-off. We did ask for pills in their original containers back when we inventoried what was dropped off. Now that the DEA won't let us do that, there is no reason for the bottles to
come to us. Much better to have them recycled by the end user.<br>
<br>
At one event, we had extra volunteers and recycled the majority of the bottles we received, after inventory data was collected. To meet HIPAA requirements, we removed the labels. A nurse told us that using a black marker to obscure personal information might
not meet HIPAA requirements. Doing this was a huge effort, so I recommend getting folks to recycle there own.
<br>
<br>
Here is what the EPA has to say about the packaging for pharmaceuticals that are hazardous waste (P-waste), which account for an extremely small percent of the pharmaceuticals that are dispensed. Note that the concern is strictly with any "residue" left in
the bottle, not with the bottle itself. The bottom line is that even these bottles can be recycled if they are first triple rinsed.<br>
<br>
Regards,<br>
<br>
Ed<br>
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<div style="direction: ltr;" id="divRpF708892"><font color="#000000" face="Tahoma" size="2"><b>From:</b> pharmwaste-bounces@lists.dep.state.fl.us [pharmwaste-bounces@lists.dep.state.fl.us] on behalf of Lucy, Burke@CalRecycle [Burke.Lucy@CalRecycle.ca.gov]<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, August 18, 2014 4:06 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> 'pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us'<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Pharmwaste] Concerns over recycling pill bottles?<br>
</font><br>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Hi all,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Has anyone heard of any concerns over recycling pill bottles because of the residue left behind by medications?
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Otherwise, I’ve only heard of problems because the plastic bottle is typically #5 Polypropylene and the cap is usually not. Combined with any cotton, paper label, or foil residue, it makes recycling pill bottles difficult at least without
separating the cap from the bottle. This article out of Wisconsin is the first I’ve heard of medication residue being any problem: </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><a href="http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/some-confused-about-new-drug-drop-off-boxes/article_43201f36-a403-524e-b9b9-055e8b410cd9.html" target="_blank">http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/some-confused-about-new-drug-drop-off-boxes/article_43201f36-a403-524e-b9b9-055e8b410cd9.html</a></span>.
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"; color:#222222">Some confused about new drug drop-off boxes</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="pubdate"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"; color:#7D7D7D">August 16, 2014 12:15 am</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Crystal Sedevie, “a Holmen police investigator who serves on an area task force relating to prescription drug abuse” said, “Old plastic bill bottles shouldn’t even be recycled…because of the residue left behind by medications.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Burke</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mr. Burke Lucy</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Environmental Scientist<span style="color:#1F497D"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1001 I Street, PO Box 4025</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sacramento, CA 95812</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:Burke.Lucy@CalRecycle.ca.gov" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">Burke.Lucy@CalRecycle.ca.gov</span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">916.341.6592</p>
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