Great information.

Do you collect and ship the same day? We would probably have to hold meds for a couple of weeks but if it isn’t controlled it wouldn’t be a problem?

Hello Jennifer,

Yes.  We have had many requests related to medical office samples, closed medical offices and our own health department medical clinics.  The way we have solved it, is to first clarify with the clinic that the office would never have controlled substance on-site.  If the medications are all non-controlled, we provide the office with our waste hauler contact information and ask them to create an account with our waste hauler.  We then share our pick-up schedule and then arrange with the waste hauler that the medical office will be charged separately for their own barrel weights at our pick-up site.  The clinics come early and are separately billed for the barrels that they fill.  Their agency saves money by bringing the non-controlled meds to be disposed of by coming to our solid/HHW waste pick-up. 

Amy

While this thread is going on unwanted meds….

We have Red Med Box locations that are having doctor offices doing large drop offs, mostly of samples. At one location the Red Med box was full so they left boxes of samples sitting on the floor-unsecured! Our partners do not want to pay for incinerating business waste and want to know why the docs are taking care of their own waste. I suspect conscientious office staff and/or hospice workers are trying to do the right thing by not flushing or dumping meds in the trash.

Has anyone run into this or found a solution? I have been trying to find rules for medicines from doctor offices but haven’t had much luck. It is very vague, “dispose of in a responsible manner”….

Thanks!

Great Question – In our community the law enforcement agencies manage controlled substance disposal through our Take-Back Meds (www.takebackmeds.org) program.  Each law enforcement agency has a designated “Quartermaster” that is in charge of the evidence room and I suggest contacting that individual at your local law enforcement agency and asking if you can collect these “other” items for disposal through the disposal methods that they use.  Ingham County Health Department  purchased cardboard box inserts, that fit inside the law enforcement drop-boxes that were originally distributed by Michigan by Department of Agriculture.   The insert boxes were designed to prevent dangerous exposure, since the public was dropping sharps, liquids and loose narcotics into the law enforcement drop-boxes.  These inserts are free for your drop-box if you have that style, just contact Tricia Brubaker, ICHD copied on this email.  Through the Take-Back Meds program, the law enforcement closes the boxes and takes the boxes to Ingham County Sheriff Office for incineration.  We ask that sharps and liquids not be put in, but our agencies feel that it is better to have the controlled meds out of the community.

We also have a wonderful partnership with the Michigan State Police (MSP) Post who offered to support our efforts if we came upon unusual items or items that are dangerous and difficult to dispose of and I recommend the Narcotic Squad officers at your local MSP Post.  MSP also has a Quartermaster.  Additionally, all law enforcement must have a process to properly dispose of old uniforms, guns and evidence.  Ask if your law enforcement agency can roll in a few extra items that should be taken out of the community.  If you use liquid morphine as an example, they will help you.  Agencies near Ingham County can also contact me and we can have your law enforcement work with Ingham County Sheriff Office Quartermaster to be included in their regular incineration runs.  A run is currently schedule for October 19 and I can get your law enforcement agent connected with the ICSO Quartermaster.

Hello everyone,

I hope you are all enjoying this brisk fall day.

Here is a question from Kate Neese in Clinton County. Please reply all so that we may all gain information.

Thank you!

Cindy Foster

Household Hazardous Waste Specialist

HHW Center

269-383-8742

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Good Morning!

Our department helps coordinate a year round collection for narcotics and my Sergeant just emailed asking how best to deal with liquid narcotics?  We have been using the DEA’s program to dispose of our narcotics but the DEA will not accept liquids.  And my Sergeant does not want to drive to Kent County to dispose of the liquids.  Should we just encourage our residents to render the liquids useless and put them in the trash?  Or are there better options?

Thanks,

Kate Neese – Recycling & Waste Management Coordinator

Clinton County Department of Waste Management

1307 E. Townsend Road *Suite 102

St Johns, MI 48879

(989) 224-5186

Fax (989) 224-5102

recycle@clinton-county.org

Like us on Facebook!  https://www.facebook.com/ClintonCountyMI

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