Santa Clara County, Department of Environmental Health Product Stewardship Institute Medical Sharps National Dialogue Meeting Rob D ’ Arcy Hazardous Materials Program Manager County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health September 23, 2008

Santa Clara County, Department of Environmental Health Santa Clara County Sharps Generation Household Hazardous Waste Program is the default collection mechanism for all banned products Household Hazardous Waste Program is the default collection mechanism for all banned products Join the list of banned waste products Join the list of banned waste products Mercury-containing productsMercury-containing products Fluorescent lamps Fluorescent lamps Thermostats Thermostats Thermometers Thermometers BatteriesBatteries E-wasteE-waste Now sharpsNow sharps Treated woodTreated wood

Santa Clara County, Department of Environmental Health Santa Clara County Sharps Generation cont. 70,664 adults with diabetes 70,664 adults with diabetes 28% take insulin28% take insulin 2 shots a day from 19,786 diabetics2 shots a day from 19,786 diabetics 1.2 million sharps per month1.2 million sharps per month 14 million sharps each year and rising 14 million sharps each year and rising

Santa Clara County, Department of Environmental Health Santa Clara County Sharps Generation cont. HHW Program and three Fire Stations collected 295,000 sharps in FY 2007 HHW Program and three Fire Stations collected 295,000 sharps in FY % of sharps collected 2% of sharps collected Where did the other 98% go?Where did the other 98% go? Disposal only = $1,220 Disposal only = $1,220 Labor $ ? Labor $ ?

Santa Clara County, Department of Environmental Health SB 1305 Makes it easy for the private sector to be part of the solution Makes it easy for the private sector to be part of the solution Consolidation pointsConsolidation points Total disposal could be as little as $60,000 per year in Santa Clara County Total disposal could be as little as $60,000 per year in Santa Clara County How much do manufacturers make on 14 million sharps? How much do manufacturers make on 14 million sharps?

Santa Clara County, Department of Environmental Health HHW Participation Statewide HHW Participation is less than 5% Statewide HHW Participation is less than 5% Santa Clara County Participation is 4.3% - $3,500,000 budget Santa Clara County Participation is 4.3% - $3,500,000 budget 28,000 households 28,000 households Should we serve 19,000 more sharps households? Should we serve 19,000 more sharps households?

Santa Clara County, Department of Environmental Health Why HHW Doesn’t Make Sense Inconvenient Inconvenient Appointment system Appointment system Limited operating days and hours Limited operating days and hours HazWoper trained personnel HazWoper trained personnel Building bigger government isn’t the answer! Building bigger government isn’t the answer!

Santa Clara County, Department of Environmental Health Sharps Collection in Santa Clara County 3 Permanent HHW Facilities 3 Permanent HHW Facilities operating 54 days per year and 10 Temporary events around the Countyoperating 54 days per year and 10 Temporary events around the County 3 Transfer Stations 3 Transfer Stations Operating 7 days per weekOperating 7 days per week 12 Pharmacy Take-back 12 Pharmacy Take-back Operating 7 days per weekOperating 7 days per week 6 Kaiser Permanente Hospitals 6 Kaiser Permanente Hospitals 3 Fire Stations 3 Fire Stations 7 County Hospitals 7 County Hospitals 3 Private Hospitals 3 Private Hospitals 2 Dialysis Centers 2 Dialysis Centers

Santa Clara County, Department of Environmental Health County Budgets $150 million budget deficit in Santa Clara County $150 million budget deficit in Santa Clara County County Hospital system is cutting services due to a decreasing budget County Hospital system is cutting services due to a decreasing budget All taxpayers are footing the bill for proper sharps disposal. All taxpayers are footing the bill for proper sharps disposal. Where are the manufacturers? Where are the manufacturers?

Santa Clara County, Department of Environmental Health Retail Recycling Partner Data Example 72% of fluorescent lamps managed by the HHW Program are received by the partners 72% of fluorescent lamps managed by the HHW Program are received by the partners Fluorescent lamp collection is a fraction of generation Fluorescent lamp collection is a fraction of generation Orchard Supply Hardware, Ace Hardware are community environmental partners. Orchard Supply Hardware, Ace Hardware are community environmental partners. Reward participating retailers with your purchasing dollars! Reward participating retailers with your purchasing dollars! Why don ’ t the big box stores participate? Why don ’ t the big box stores participate? Walgreens?Wal-Mart?Costco? Walgreens?Wal-Mart?Costco?

Santa Clara County, Department of Environmental Health Obvious Partners Industry Industry Manufacturers profit from the saleManufacturers profit from the sale Build take-back into their business plansBuild take-back into their business plans Retailers Retailers Profit from the saleProfit from the sale Internet sales should be required to provide mail-back Internet sales should be required to provide mail-back

Santa Clara County, Department of Environmental Health Shared Responsibility Government – Education Government – Education Retailers – Take-back Retailers – Take-back Manufacturers – Funding Manufacturers – Funding Patient – Return the sharps Patient – Return the sharps

Santa Clara County, Department of Environmental Health California Product Stewardship Council Mission: To shift California’s product waste management system from one focused on government funded and ratepayer financed waste diversion to one that relies on producer responsibility in order to reduce public costs and drive improvements in product design that promote environmental sustainability. Mission: To shift California’s product waste management system from one focused on government funded and ratepayer financed waste diversion to one that relies on producer responsibility in order to reduce public costs and drive improvements in product design that promote environmental sustainability

Santa Clara County, Department of Environmental Health California Product Stewardship Council Support Framework Legislation to: Support Framework Legislation to: Advance sustainability Advance sustainability Pollution preventionPollution prevention Zero wasteZero waste Litter reductionLitter reduction Plastic pollutionPlastic pollution Hazardous product end of life managementHazardous product end of life management Reduce packaging wasteReduce packaging waste Marine pollutionMarine pollution Reverse climate changeReverse climate change