Household Hazardous Waste: Sharps Events

Meeting Notes, March 17, 2008: Sharps Stakeholders' (SB 1305)

Do we have any data on the amount of Sharps used from animals?

• No.

Is there an ordinance available?

• You can check with Santa Clara County.

How does the public know about SB 1305?

• No answer.

Some question of farm-generated or other animal sharps.

• James Cropper will follow up with CIWMB legal--concerns over small farms and home generated animal sharps.

Michelle, Placer County--Can State work at corporate level? (Retail)

• Robert Turner, Marin County--Has 30-some-odd retailers participating--can happen.
• Karl Schumman Beckin/Dickenson (sp?), member of safe needle coalition looking at getting retailers involved kiosks, mail-back, CVS in Rhode Island; $ from State grant and Eureka found. Thinks majority of people with Diabetes get their sharps at pharmacies.

Marin, how much does their program cost?

• $1,000/month--Disposal Collection.
• $1,000/month--Containers ($4-$4.50/ container).
• $24,000/year--Funded through HHW Program # served?

Is the intent for sharps to come back to pharmacies?

• Integrated program with many options.

Can hospitals accept sharps from public?

• Ron Pilorin, CDPH: Yes, but many are reluctant due to liability issues. They must include the program in their MWM Plan. Some hospitals think they cannot accept from public.
• Christina Mille, Tehama County, accepting sharps would bump the hospital up to a large quantity HW Generator.

Jack McGurk, how much did Lake County pay?

• $16/container.

Where do the sharps go?

• Carthage, Texas for incineration or autoclave.

Which retailers/pharmacies participate?

• Many…$81 to pick up containers (tubs) from Walgreen’s. Some sites have full bins; depends.

Ousmane Sy, does pharmaceutical waste get mixed in with sharps waste?

• Cannot say for sure, but has not been an issue.

Ousmane Sy, what do mfgs do?

• To date, nothing. Include costs in garbage rate: $80,000/ year for SF Program.

Why do the hospitals pay?

• Their costs for this program are insignificant compared to their other costs.

Kari Holmes, are other Sutter facilities participating?

• Not yet. Kari, in contact with other med. facilities in Vacaville.

Has anyone had negative reactions from hospitals?

• Robert Turner, have had good luck with pharmacies.
• Jack, some hospitals had improper disposal by people bringing them back and not knowing where to take them. Good idea to put take-back instructions on container.
• Tom Erickson:
  • In MN, MPCA, Board of Pharmacists and American Diabetes Association: convenient drop-off and free sharps containers.
  • Legislature will make it illegal to dispose of sharps in waste stream.
  • Sharps mfg responsible for making free containers available.
  • Pharmacies are supportive as a way to get foot traffic back up.
  • Looking at a $5.00 core charge.
  • At 100 percent compliance: 50,000 containers/month at $1.50/box for pick up and autoclave and LF, i.e., $5 core charge (would be returned) plus a $2 disposal fee.

Is there periodic testing of autoclaves?

Could they be melted and reused?

• They are multi-material. Not much metal.
• In Sonoma County, Walgreen’s stopped pilot project due to people using drugs in parking lot.
• Similar issues in SF, but worked with partners to increase education and outreach has seen a decline since.
• Tehama County beginning a program modeled after Shasta County placing containers at recycling centers based on study results (among other sites).
• Use label on sharps containers (at purchase) that gives disposal information.
• Marin County: ‘Fit Packs’ of 10 clean syringes in a labeled container.

Has the CIWMB taken a position on AB 501 and try to get producer response back?

• Can’t say. Jack M, this has raised awareness of issue.

Resources

• Contact hospitals, etc. in your area.
• Suggest public education through garbage bills, pharmacies, local newspapers, via groups such as National MS Society, sharing of best practices.
• Utilize existing infrastructure (hospitals, pharmacies).
• Sonoma County holding local stakeholder meetings trying to get vets to send patients home with containers.

March 2008 Agenda | Sharps Stakeholders Meetings