Household Hazardous Waste

Pharmaceutical Waste Management Plan

Vision

The vision for the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) activities related to pharmaceuticals, and where feasible, sharps, is to provide local jurisdictions in California with the tools to implement collection programs as well as work with manufacturers, retailers, pharmacies, hospitals, and other health-related constituents for the proper disposition of pharmaceuticals and sharps in a single location.

Goal for Pharmaceutical Collection

The goal of CIWMB pharmaceutical activities is to develop model programs for rural and urban areas that meet established statutory criteria for the collection of unused and expired pharmaceuticals.

Working with External Stakeholders

By working with external stakeholders to review established statutory criteria and other essential elements for pharmaceutical collection program, CIWMB will be better able to craft a model program that will fit the needs of California residents. CIWMB has already established the Pharmaceutical Working Group (Working Group) consisting of staff from the California Department of Public Health, the Board of Pharmacy, Department of Toxic Substances Control, and State Water Resources Control Board. On a national and regional level, CIWMB is also working with the Product Stewardship Institute National Dialogue and the California Product Stewardship Council.

Information Gathering

CIWMB will identify programs that meet statutory criteria by surveying in late June 2008 existing programs in California, other states, and abroad. Survey results will be summarized and analyzed as to program efficiency, public convenience, cost-effectiveness, sustainability, environmental effectiveness, and efficacy for different populations and population densities. Information from the survey will be incorporated into staff recommendations for model collection program criteria. Survey results will be available in late August 2008.

CIWMB will review, summarize and evaluate other states’ and governmental entities’ pharmaceutical collection programs. In addition, CIWMB will determine which programs meet the criteria set forth in SB 966 (Simitian, Chapter 542, Statutes of 2007).

Information Dissemination to Interested Parties

CIWMB is developing a pharmaceuticals model collection programs web page to contain lists of collection programs with a short program description, a searchable collection database, resources, and links to laws and regulations. Look for this web page in the near future on this site.

A follow-up Stakeholders’ Meeting is planned for August 25, 2008, to survey and review the first iteration of ideas for model programs. Staff will post survey results on CIWMB’s Pharmaceutical Drug Waste website around that time. Staff will finalize the description, criteria, and essential elements for model programs and present this information to the Board in fall 2008 summarizing the survey results and staff recommendations for model collection programs.

Develop Model Program Criteria

A description of the model programs along with the established criteria for model collection programs will be made available on the pharmaceutical model programs web page as guidance documents for pharmacies and businesses interested in collecting and disposing of pharmaceuticals. Collection programs may differ between rural and urban areas. CIWMB staff will track collection program locations and collection data to evaluate amounts and types of pharmaceuticals diverted from waste streams, thus evaluating the effectiveness of the model program criteria.

Report Preparation

In preparation for a Report to the Legislature due December 2010, CIWMB staff will monitor collection programs during 2009 and 2010 and summarize data such as cost, amounts collected, safety issues, types of populations served, and convenience to the public. A draft report will be presented to the Board in late summer 2010 for public review prior to submittal to the Legislature. The Final Report will include program evaluation and recommendations for a statewide pharmaceutical collection program and any potential statutory changes that are needed.

Contact

Please contact James Cropper for questions or more information.

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