No preview available
HomeMy WebLinkAboutFD SB 1014 Waste Collection DisposalAgenda Item No: 4,o Meeting Date: March 17, 2014 SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Department: CITY MANAGER Prepared by: Nancy Mackie, City Manager City Manager Approva', SUBJECT: Resolution supporting Senate Bill 1014 (Jackson) Home -Generated Pharmaceutical Waste Collection and Disposal Act RECOMMENDATION: Adopt Resolution supporting Senate Bill 1014 (Jackson) regarding the collection and disposal of home -generated pharmaceutical waste. BACKGROUND: In response to the growing problems of prescription drug abuse, accidental poisonings, and the detection of pharmaceutical products in California waters, local governments throughout the state have struggled to establish safe and convenient medication take -back programs. The public demand and need for such programs has been tremendous - even limited programs have collected hundreds of pounds of drugs. Law enforcement, federal agencies, public health and environmental professionals agree that take -back programs are the safest way to dispose of unused medes. The San Rafael Police Department became a pharmaceutical drop-off location in March 2014; one of oril six free drop-off locations in San Rafael. All six drop-off locations are currently funded by the County o Marin. The San Rafael Fire Department used to have a pharmaceutical collection program through thei partnership at the Marin Household Hazardous Waste Facility, but despite its popularity, the collectio program was removed due to budget cuts. I ANALYSIS: In an effort to manage the clear societal and environmental impacts of unused medications, SB 1014 would require producers of pharmaceuticals to create, finance, and manage a collection system for California consumers to safely and conveniently take -back unwanted pharmaceuticals. This system is structured after an existing program in Canada which the industry has efficiently operated for 15 years. Drugs — both prescription and over the counter — present significant problems at the end of their useful life. Consumers have leftover drugs in their homes which tend to be stockpiled, flushed, or thrown in the garbage. Unfortunately, the lack of an end -of -life management plans result in significant problems for California. Prescription drug abuse has •skyrocketed in recent years, as have hospitalizations and •deaths from overdoses. In fact, opioid pain relievers were involved in more drug poisoning deaths than other drugs, including heroin and cocaine. One of the four top recommendations of the National Strategy on Preventing Prescription Drug Abuse is to have a safe and convenient method of disposal for prescription drugs, over the counter drugs, and veterinary medicines that we have in our homes. Pharmaceutical products also cause environmental impacts by entering our waters by excretion, consumers disposing unused medications down the toilet or drain, or through wastewater siphoned from landfills and discharged into the environment. Numerous studies in California have found detectible levels of pharmaceuticals, including synthetic birth control, antibiotics, mood stabilizers, and analgesics in San FOR CITY CLERK ONLY File No..- A *1 Meeting: 111,2-C L -f *.#ouncl Francisco Bay, as well as both surface and groundwater drinking water sources. The environmental impacts on aquatic species are very real even at trace levels, including reproductive failure, behavioral changes that impair their ability to survive, and bioaccumulation and interference with the food chain. Since wastewater treatment cannot remove these chemicals completely and is cost prohibitive, stopping their entry into our water at the source is one important step in protecting our precious water resources. Similarly, municipal governments throughout California do not have enough collection locations to support community demand, draw resources from other vital government functions, and fail to realize the efficiency that would come from a statewide program. SB 1014 would allow the City of San Rafael and Marin County to provide more drop-off locations to residents without requiring an increased Household Hazardous Waste budget. SB 1014 is a business -friendly approach that allows manufacturers to design the program in whatever way is most cost effective, with minimal oversight from state regulators. The success of this stewardship model is evidenced by public surveys in Canada demonstrating the strong public awareness and participation in the program, the volumes of collected medications, and the fact that 95% of the pharmacies voluntarily host collection bins. FISCAL IMPACT: No impact. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached Resolutior OPTIONS: 0 Approve the Resolution N Modify Resolution and/or Direct Staff to Return with Modifications 0 Reject the Resolution ATTACHMENTS: Resolution A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL SUPPORTING SENATE BILL 1014 HOME -GENERATED PHARMACEUTICA_ WASTE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL ACT I WHEREAS, prescription drug abuse, accidental poisonings, and the detection of pharmaceutical products in California waters is an increasing problem; and WHEREAS, local governments throughout the state have struggled to establis safe and convenient medication take -back programs; and 1 WHEREAS, the San Rafael Fire Department was forced to remove the Pharmaceuticals Collection Program from the Marin Household Hazardous Waste Facility in 2009 due to budget cuts; and WHEREAS, in San Rafael, there are only six free pharmaceutical drop-off locations; and 4 WHEREAS, all free pharmaceutical drop-off locations in San Rafael are fundel-i- by the County of Marin; and WHEREAS, SB 1014 would require producers of pharmaceuticals to creat finance, and manage a collection system for California consumers to safely an I conveniently take -back unwanted pharmaceuticals. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council, on behalf of the iresidents of the City of San Rafael, hereby SUPPORT Senate Bill 1014 (Jackson) Home -Generated Pharmaceutical Waste Collection and Disposal Act. 1, Esther C. Beirne, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at th a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of San Rafael, held on Monday, the 17 of March 2014, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Colin, Connolly, McCullough & Mayor Phillip NOES: Councilmembers: None ABSENT: Councilmembers: None sther C. BeIrne, City Clerk CITY OF SAN RAFAEL �AOUTING SLIP / APPROVAL FORM �4 INSTRUCTIONS: USE THIS FORM WITH EACH SUBMITTAL OF A CONTRACT, AGREEMENT, ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION BEFORE APPROVAL BY COUNCIL / AGENCY. SRRA/ SRCC AGENDA ITEM NO. 4.e_ .-ROM: Nancy Mackie 1EPARTMENT: City Manager's Office DATE: 03/12/2014 TITLE OF DOCUMENT: RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL SUPPORTING SENATE BILL 1014 HOME -GENERATED PHARMACEUTICAL WASTE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL ACT Department Head (signature) (LOWER HALF OF FORM FOR APPROVALS ONLY)