<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:x="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:excel" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
        {font-family:Calibri;
        panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
        {font-family:Tahoma;
        panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
@font-face
        {font-family:"Segoe UI";
        panose-1:2 11 5 2 4 2 4 2 2 3;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
        {margin:0in;
        margin-bottom:.0001pt;
        font-size:12.0pt;
        font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
        {mso-style-priority:99;
        color:blue;
        text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
        {mso-style-priority:99;
        color:purple;
        text-decoration:underline;}
p
        {mso-style-priority:99;
        margin:0in;
        margin-bottom:.0001pt;
        font-size:12.0pt;
        font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
p.MsoListParagraph, li.MsoListParagraph, div.MsoListParagraph
        {mso-style-priority:34;
        margin:0in;
        margin-bottom:.0001pt;
        font-size:12.0pt;
        font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
span.EmailStyle19
        {mso-style-type:personal-reply;
        font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
        color:#1F497D;}
.MsoChpDefault
        {mso-style-type:export-only;
        font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
        {size:8.5in 11.0in;
        margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
        {page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black;background:white'>In Alberta, Canada the take back program is funded by the Alberta Pharmacists’ Association.  In 2014, they collected over 71 metric tons.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Full story link:</span> <a href="http://lethbridgeherald.com/commentary/letters-to-the-editor/2017/08/24/return-unused-meds-to-your-pharmacist/">http://lethbridgeherald.com/commentary/letters-to-the-editor/2017/08/24/return-unused-meds-to-your-pharmacist/</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Jeff Hollar</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>President</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:navy'>PharmWaste Technologies, Inc.</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>4164 NW Urbandale Dr., Ste A</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Urbandale, IA 50322</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>515-276-5302 (general)</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>515-331-7310 (direct)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>515-360-9785 (cell)</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:blue'><a href="http://www.pwaste.com/" title="http://www.pwaste.com/">www.pwaste.com</a></span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Pharmwaste [mailto:pharmwaste-bounces@lists.dep.state.fl.us] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Ed Gottlieb<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, August 24, 2017 4:06 PM<br><b>To:</b> pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us; Pretreatment_Coordinators@yahoogroups.com<br><b>Subject:</b> [Pharmwaste] A badly flawed pharmaceutical take-back bill may become state law<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'>Any day now, a seriously flawed New York State chain pharmacy take-back bill could be signed into law.  <a href="https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2017/a387/amendment/b"><span style='color:#0563C1'>https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2017/a387/amendment/b</span></a><br>It would do a poor job of providing convenient take-back and who pays for it is wrong.  <br><br>This could be the leading edge of a wave of state bills that shield manufactures from any responsibility for the collection and disposal of their unwanted products.  To prevent this, we need to take action!  (Suggestions <span style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'>highlighted</span> below.)  <br>  <br>The bill requires pharmacies with 10 or more stores in the state to offer take-back option<u>s</u> (plural in the NY bill).  Pharmacies could choose among any legal method, including:  mail-back, home disposal products, collection events (no frequency specified), and kiosks.  <br><br>It appears that the original Senate version of the bill required that all take-back be free to consumers.  It was amended to allow the pharmacies to pass on 100% of the cost of mail-back envelopes to consumers.  The final version, amended by the Assembly, allows them to pass on up to $2 of the cost of mail-back envelopes to consumers, with other take-back options remaining free.  Does your inner cynic wonder, as mine does, if the change from "free" to "pay 100% for mail-back" was a bait and switch to get the support of legislators?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'>My interpretation of the bill is that it would be easy for chain pharmacies to comply with the law.  They could sell small take-back envelopes for $2 and sponsor a once-a-year collection event.  When I spoke with representatives of a couple of chain pharmacies, they were supportive of the compromise version because it releases them from having to install kiosks, which take more effort and are seen as a liability risk (something EPR bills need to address!).  <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'>The bill does nothing to increase take-back in rural areas without a chain pharmacy.    <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'>The bill also preempts local law, so existing EPR laws will be struck down.  This totally relieves manufactures of any responsibility to organize or pay for take-back and puts the full burden on chain pharmacies and consumers. <br>   <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'>If you don't live in NY and want to see an effective pharmaceutical EPR law in your community or state, or don't want to see your local EPR law disappear, please educate state legislators about EPR <u>now</u>.</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black;background:lime;mso-highlight:lime'>*</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'> If they don't get the facts, a state chain pharmacy bill will probably look like a good compromise solution.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'>If you are a New Yorker, please ask Governor Cuomo to veto A.387-B, the chain pharmacy take-back bill.  It could be sent to his desk for a signature any time, so contact him right away!  He will have to hear from many of us to consider a veto, the bill had strong, bipartisan support.</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'>  </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'>Talking points:     <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:black'>·</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:black'>        </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'>This bill is a give-away to the pharmaceutical manufactures, relieving them of any responsibility for the collection and disposal of their unwanted product.  Chain pharmacies and consumers will have to pay for take-back.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:black'>·</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:black'>         </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'>It fails to provide effective take-back of unwanted household medications.  <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";color:black'>o</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:black'>    </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'>Charging $2 for a small mail-back envelope is a strong disincentive to participate.  <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";color:black'>o</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:black'>    </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'>Many rural communities are not served by chain pharmacies.  This bill does nothing for them.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:black'>·</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:black'>         </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'>Without convenient take-back options, medicine cabinets will continue to fuel the opioid addiction crisis, accidental poisonings, and environmental contamination.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:black'>·</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:black'>         </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'>It preempts any local law related to take-back.  Rockland County’s extended producer responsibility (EPR) law, will no longer be valid.  Similar bills, including those under consideration in Erie and Westchester Counties, will be moot.  The only reason for preemption is to ensure that manufactures won’t have to pay.  <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:black'>·</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:black'>         </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'>MA & VT, along with many municipalities, have passed pharmaceutical EPR laws.  NY should improve upon those models and take the lead on this important public health issue!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;margin-left:.25in;background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'>Contact </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'>Governor Cuomo's office</span><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'> by phone:  </span><span style='color:black'><a href="tel:15184748390"><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:#0563C1'>1-518-474-8390</span></a></span><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'>  Hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;margin-left:.25in;background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'>Web form: <a href="https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form"><span style='color:#0563C1'>https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;margin-left:.25in;background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'>Write: <br>The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo<br>Governor of New York State<br>NYS State Capitol Building<br>Albany, NY 12224<o:p></o:p></span></p></blockquote><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black;background:lime;mso-highlight:lime'>*</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'> Here are a couple of links to information on EPR:<br><br><a href="http://www.productstewardship.us/?page=GoToGuide"><span style='color:#0563C1'>http://www.productstewardship.us/?page=GoToGuide</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'><a href="http://calpsc.org/products/pharmaceuticals/"><span style='color:#0563C1'>http://calpsc.org/products/pharmaceuticals/</span></a></span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'>Thanks for speaking out!</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'>Ed Gottlieb<br>Chair, Coalition for Safe Medication Disposal<br>Board Member, New York Product Stewardship Council<br>Industrial Pretreatment Coordinator<br>Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility<br>525 3<sup>rd</sup> Street<br>Ithaca, NY  14850<br>(607) 273-8381<br>fax: (607) 273-8433<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div></body></html>