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HomeMy WebLinkAbout020617_ca06Department of Public Works O Consent Agenda Page 1 of 2 Jefferson County Board of Commissioners Agenda Request To: Board of Commissioners Philip Morley, County Administrator From: Monte Reinders, Public Works Director Agenda Date: February 6, 2017 Subject: Letters of Support to our State Legislative Delegation Drug Take -Back House Bill 1047 Statement of Issue: This Bill would establish a program that would require manufactures selling drugs in Washington to establish a program to expand collection and dispose of unwanted pharmaceuticals from Jefferson County and the City of Port Townsend. Program funding would come from manufacturers with no disposal surcharge to the consumer. Analysis/Strategic Goals/Pro's and Con's: The Jefferson County Solid Waste Management Plan recommends expansion of unused medication collection and recognizes that leftover amounts of medicines and drugs are often flushed into waste water systems consequently being found in groundwater and streams. Many of the drugs of concern are regulated substances and this Bill is an effort to reduce those unwanted medications by expanding drop-off centers for residents. The Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) has been monitoring this Bill and unanimously recommends these letters of support to representatives. Fiscal Impact/Cost Benefit Analysis: The Bill is considered a public health concern and will be overseen and administered by the State Health Department and the Jefferson County Health Department in conjunction with the Solid Waste Division. Primary funding for this program would come from drug manufacturers so is considered cost neutral for Jefferson County. Recommendation: Public Works recommends Letters of Support for House Bill 1047. Department Contact: Tom Boatman, Solid Waste Manager: 385-9213 R yew �f Philip Morley, Coufity Administr Date February 6, 2017 The Honorable Mike Chapman 132B Legislative Building PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504 RE, Drug Take -Back House Bill 1047 Dear Representative Chapman, Jefferson County will be greatly helped by the drug take back bill that requires manufacturers that sell drugs into Washington to collect and dispose of covered drugs that residents no longer want These drugs need to be separated from regular waste and disposed of in a safe and secure manner that will protect public health Evidence has been accumulating for several years that some current disposal methods for pharmaceuticals are creating problems Leftover amounts of medicmes and drugs are often flushed into wastewater systems, and have consequently been found in groundwater and streams There is widespread evidence that pharmaceuticals deleteriously affect fish and other aquatic organisms Many of the drugs of concern are regulated substances with legal ramifications for ownership and handling, which complicates efforts to find a better disposal method Counties are implementers of many State programs and this collection and disposal program is supported by our Solid Waste Advisory Comrnittee which is made up of local business and residents expressing concerns over the need to provide comprehensive take -back programs for unwanted prescription drugs The Jefferson County and Port Townsend Solid Waste Management Plan highly recommends expanded collection planning of unwanted residential drugs and so this take -back program fits well into Jefferson County and the City of Port Townsend solid waste disposal goals This program would require a Department of Health approved take -back collection system paid for directly by manufacturers that would increase accessibility to proper disposal locations for our elderly Jefferson County Department of Health supports this important program that would protect public health by providing a more convenient collection site and thus lead to greater participation and proper drug disposal State law enforcement and first responders support this program as a means to reduce availability of opioids by providing much needed collection and disposal systems for unwanted prescriptions Funding for this bill will primarily come from manufacturers, would therefore be cost neutral and for the reasons given above is strongly supported in principal by Jefferson County and the City of Port Townsend Please support the passage of the Drug Take -Back House Bill 1047 Thank you for your attention to this matter, staff stand ready to assist you in any way needed Sincerely, Kathleen Kler, Chair David Sullivan, Member Kate Dean, Member February 6, 2017 The Honorable Steve Tharmger 314 John L O'Brien Bmldmg PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504 RE, Drug Take -Back House Bill 1047 Dear Representative Tharmger, Jefferson County will be greatly helped by the drug take back bill that requires manufacturers that sell drugs into Washington to collect and dispose of covered drugs that residents no longer want These drugs need to be separated from regular waste and disposed of in a safe and secure manner that will protect public health Evidence has been accumulating for several years that some current disposal methods for pharmaceuticals are creating problems Leftover amounts of medicines and drugs are often flushed into wastewater systems, and have consequently been found in groundwater and streams There is widespread evidence that pharmaceuticals deleteriously affect fish and other aquatic organisms Many of the drugs of concern are regulated substances with legal ramifications for ownership and handling, which complicates efforts to find a better disposal method Counties are implementers of many State programs and this collection and disposal program is supported by our Solid Waste Advisory Committee which is made up of local business and residents expressing concerns over the need to provide comprehensive take -back programs for unwanted prescription drugs The Jefferson County and Port Townsend Solid Waste Management Plan highly recommends expanded collection planning of unwanted residential drugs and so this take -back program fits well into Jefferson County and the City of Port Townsend solid waste disposal goals This program would require a Department of Health approved take -back collection system paid for directly by manufacturers that would increase accessibility to proper disposal locations for our elderly Jefferson County Department of Health supports this unportant program that would protect public health by providing a more convement collection site and thus lead to greater participation and proper drug disposal State law enforcement and first responders support this program as a means to reduce availability of opioids by providing much needed collection and disposal systems for unwanted prescriptions Funding for this bill will primarily come from manufacturers, would therefore be cost neutral and for the reasons given above is strongly supported in principal by Jefferson County and the City of Port Townsend Please support the passage of the Drug Take -Back House Bill 1047 Thank you for your attention to this matter, staff stand ready to assist you in any way needed Sincerely, Kathleen Kler, Chair David Sullivan, Member Kate Dean, Member February 6, 2017 The Honorable Kevin Van De Wege 212 John A Cherberg Building PO Box 40424 Olympia, WA 98504 RE, Drug Take -Back House Bill 1047 Dear Representative De Wege, Jefferson County will be greatly helped by the drug take back bill that requires manufacturers that sell drugs into Washington to collect and dispose of covered drugs that residents no longer want These drugs need to be separated from regular waste and disposed of in a safe and secure manner that will protect public health Evidence has been accumulating for several years that some current disposal methods for pharmaceuticals are creating problems Leftover amounts of medicines and drugs are often flushed into wastewater systems, and have consequently been found in groundwater and streams There is widespread evidence that pharmaceuticals deleteriously affect fish and other aquatic organisms Many of the drugs of concern are regulated substances with legal rannfications for ownership and handling, which complicates efforts to find a better disposal method Counties are implementers of many State programs and this collection and disposal program is supported by our Solid Waste Advisory Committee which is made up of local business and residents expressing concerns over the need to provide comprehensive take -back programs for unwanted prescription drugs The Jefferson County and Port Townsend Solid Waste Management Plan highly recommends expanded collection planning of unwanted residential drugs and so this take -back program fits well into Jefferson County and the City of Port Townsend solid waste disposal goals This program would require a Department of Health approved take -back collection system paid for directly by manufacturers that would increase accessibility to proper disposal locations for our elderly Jefferson County Department of Health supports this important program that would protect public health by providing a more convement collection site and thus lead to greater participation and proper drug disposal State law enforcement and first responders support this program as a means to reduce availability of opioids by providing much needed collection and disposal systems for unwanted prescriptions Funding for this bill will primarily come from manufacturers, would therefore be cost neutral and for the reasons given above is strongly supported in principal by Jefferson County and the City of Port Townsend Please support the passage of the Drug Take -Back House Bill 1047 Thank you for your attention to this matter, staff stand ready to assist you in any way needed Sincerely, Kathleen Kler, Chair David Sullivan, Member Kate Dean, Member