SB 966 (Simitian, 2007-08) Reducing Pharmaceuticals in Waste Stream
Summary.
SB 966 would begin the process of establishing a state-wide solution for the growing problem of improper disposal of unused and expired pharmaceutical drugs by creating model disposal programs and requiring the California Integrated Waste Management Board to report back to the legislature on their potential state-wide implementation.
Position and Status.
CAW Supports. SB 966 was signed by Governor Schwarzenegger Oct. 12, 2007. View the Release>> Previously, SB 966 had received a 28-11 concurrence vote in the Senate, had passed off the Assembly Floor with a 45-30 vote Sep 7, passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee with a 12-5 vote, passed out of Asm. Health 9-5 on July 3, the Asm. Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee June 26 with a 4-2 vote, the Senate Environmental Quality Committee on March 26 with a 4-2 vote and the Senate Committee on Business, Professions and Economic on April 23 with a 5-3 vote.
Description.
Currently there are few safe and convenient ways for consumers to dispose of unused prescription drugs. Nearly all unused pharmaceuticals enter either our solid waste system or our sewage system. Neither disposal methods are environmentally sound. Pharmaceuticals flushed down the toilet pass through our sewage treatment plants which are generally not designed to screen for these chemicals. Pharmaceuticals discarded in landfills can seep into the surrounding watertable. Several studies, including a 2002 analysis by the US Geological Survey of 139 streams across 30 states found that 80 percent of waterways tested had measurable concentrations of prescription and nonprescription drugs, steroids, and reproductive hormones. SB 966 would help ensure proper disposal of prescription pharmaceuticals by allowing retailers of pharmaceutical drugs and other organizations to have in place a system for the acceptance and collection of drugs.
CAW Staff Contacts.
Mark Murray and Bryan Early (916) 443-5422
Current Actions.
No current actions for this bill.
Author: Senator Joe Simitian
State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814
Supporters.
Californians Against Waste (Letter of Support)
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
Alameda County Board of Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker
Alameda County Waste Management Authority
Breast Cancer Fund
California Alliance For Consumer Protection
California Association of Sanitation Agencies
California Retailers Association (former opposition)
California State Association of Counties
California Nurses Association
California Product Stewardship Council
California Psychiatric Association
California Veterinary Medical Association
Central Contra Costa Sanitary District
Chula Vista Mayor Cheryl Cox
City of Benicia
City of Chula Vista
City of Coronado
City of Del Mar
City of Elk Grove
City of Imperial Beach
City of Lakewood
City of La Mesa
City of Livermore (Water Resources Division)
City of Millbrae
City of National City
City of Palo Alto
City of Rohnert Park
City of Roseville
City of San Jose
City of Santa Cruz
City of Santa Rosa
City and County of San Francisco
City of Sunnyvale
Clean Water Action
East Bay Municipal Utility District
Environment California
EXP Pharmaceutical Services Corp.
Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation
League of California Cities
Los Angeles County Solid Waste Management Committee/Integrated Waste Management Task Force
Marin Co. Hazardous & Solid Waste Management Joint Powers Authority
Maine Benzodiazepine Study Group
Maine Unused Drug Disposal Group
Mayors™ & Councilmembers™ Association of Sonoma County
Metro Wastewater Joint Powers Authority
Mojave Desert and Mountain Recycling Authority
Mt. View Sanitary District
Napa County
National Association of Chain Drug Stores (Former opposition)
Northern California Recycling Association
Orange County Sanitation District
Petaluma
Pfizer
Planning and Conservation League
Regional Council of Rural Counties
Rite Aid (former opposition)
Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
San Luis Obispo County Integrated Waste Management Authority
Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County
Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors
Santa Clara Valley Water District
Solid Waste Association of North America
Sonoma County Water Agency
Save the Bay
Sierra Club California
StopWaste.Org, Alameda County Waste Management Authority
Teleosis Institute
TODOS UNIDOS
Forest Batz, PharmD, Assistant Clinical Professor, School of Pharmacy, University of California, San Francisco
Walgreen Company (Former opposition)
Water Replenishment District of Southern California
Opposition.
(none)
California Grocers Association (Opposition withdrawn 9/5/07)
California Narcotic Officers™ Association (Opposition withdrawn 9/5/07)
California Retailers Association (Opposition withdrawn 9/6/07)
California State Board of Pharmacy (Opposition withdrawn 9/5/07)
National Association of Chain Drug Stores (Opposition withdrawn 9/6/07)
Rite Aid (Opposition withdrawn 9/6/07)
Walgreen Company (Opposition withdrawn 9/5/07)