News Flash

Santa Rosa Water

Posted on: February 13, 2023

New Opportunities for Safe Medicine Disposal

News Flash_Safe Meds

Thanks to newly implemented statewide legislation, Sonoma and Mendocino County residents now have more convenient opportunities to safely dispose of their expired or unwanted medications and home‑generated sharps waste.
 
California Senate Bill 212, passed in 2018, laid the groundwork for pharmaceutical manufacturers and producers to pay for the collection, transportation, and disposal of their products at the end of their lifecycle. CalRecycle is the State agency that manages oversight of this new industry-run statewide stewardship program that provides safe and convenient disposal options for pharmaceutical and home-generated sharps waste at no cost to the consumer.
 
Starting in 2023, you should see more and more medication collection bins popping up at your local pharmacies. Large chain stores like CVS, Safeway, Lucky Pharmacy, and Rite Aid are participating in this new stewardship program along with local pharmacies to provide safe drop-off of medications at the same place you pick up prescriptions. There will also be more mail-back options available. Some local law enforcement agencies also provide collection bins for residents to drop-off medications.
 
Where and How Do I Dispose of Pharmaceuticals? 


For now, home-generated sharps and needles will continue to be collected as Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) at local HHW collection facilities and collection events. Russian River Watershed Association (RRWA) will monitor the status of sharps stewardship programs as they come online during this year. California residents can order free sharps mail-back kits with containers through the participating stewardship organizations.
 
How Do I Dispose of Home-Generated Sharps Waste? 


Before the passage of Senate Bill 212, the financial cost of managing the Safe Medicine Disposal Program had fallen on local Sonoma and Mendocino County jurisdictions, including local jurisdictions through RRWA. By shifting the responsibility for collection and disposal from public entities to private stewardship groups, California’s Pharmaceutical and Sharps Waste Stewardship Law saves taxpayer money and local resources. The Stewardship Law also promotes the circular economy, by mandating manufacturers consider end-of-life disposal in the design and management of their products.
 
CalRecycle encourages residents to submit any issues or concerns with collection sites and types of medications and sharps accepted. To report an issue, submit a survey at the CalRecycle program homepage at https://calrecycle.ca.gov/epr/pharmasharps/referral/ or email [email protected].
  
This article was authored by Zero Waste Sonoma and the County of Sonoma Department of Health Services, Environmental Health , for RRWA. RRWA is an association of local public agencies in the Russian River Watershed that have come together to coordinate regional programs for clean water, habitat restoration, and watershed enhancement.

Additional Info...
Facebook Twitter Email

Other News in Santa Rosa Water

News Flash_Annas Hummingbird

Creek Spotlight: Bird Nests

Posted on: May 23, 2023
2023 WATER-USE EFFICIENCY

2023 Water-Use Efficiency Awards

Posted on: May 2, 2023
News Flash_2023 Merit Awards

2023 Merit Awards

Posted on: April 8, 2023
Drought Update Jan

Water Supply Update - Jan. 11, 2023

Posted on: January 11, 2023
Toilet Rebate

NEW Toilet Replacement Rebate Available

Posted on: January 11, 2023
News Flash_Drought Update

Water Supply Update - Dec. 7, 2022

Posted on: December 7, 2022
News Flash_Call for Gardens

Call for WaterSmart Gardens!

Posted on: September 26, 2022
News Flash_Storm Water Team Spotlight

Team Spotlight: Storm Water and Creeks

Posted on: September 22, 2022
News Flash_Drought

Water Supply Update - September 22, 2022

Posted on: September 22, 2022
News Flash_Creek Critter_River Otter

Creek Critter: River Otter

Posted on: September 21, 2022
Ribbon Cutting_News Flash

Lower Colgan Creek Restoration Project

Posted on: August 24, 2022
News Flash_WaterSmart Businesses

Drought Resources For Businesses

Posted on: August 23, 2022
News Flash_Aug Water Supply

Water Supply Update - August 18, 2022

Posted on: August 18, 2022
News Flash_Free Device

Free WaterSmart Devices

Posted on: August 12, 2022
News Flash_Tree Care

Help Your Trees Survive Drought

Posted on: August 10, 2022
News Flash_Plant Picker

WaterSmart Plant Picker

Posted on: August 3, 2022
News Flash_Summer Popup

Saving Water Summer Pop Ups

Posted on: July 7, 2022
News Flash_Irrigation

Schedule an Irrigation Checkup

Posted on: July 21, 2022
News Flash_Drought Update

Water Supply Update - July 14, 2022

Posted on: July 14, 2022
News Flash_Smart Irrigation

July is Smart Irrigation Month

Posted on: June 29, 2022
WaterSmart Check-up

Schedule a WaterSmart Check-up!

Posted on: June 1, 2022
News Flash_Drought

Top 10 Water-Saving Tips

Posted on: June 1, 2022