Program News
- UltiMed, Inc. submitted a home-generated sharps stewardship plan to CalRecycle on July 2, 2021. On July 30, 2021, CalRecycle notified UltiMed that the plan was incomplete. UltiMed, Inc. has 30 days from receipt of the notification letter to resubmit its stewardship plan to CalRecycle.
- The contact information for potential stewardship organizations has been added below.
- On January 7, 2021, the Office of Administrative Law approved the Pharmaceutical and Sharps Waste Stewardship Regulations, effective immediately.
- SB 212 (Jackson, Chapter 1004, Statutes of 2018) was approved by Governor Brown on September 30, 2018.
Text version of infographic timeline
Text version of Stewardship Program Implementation Timeline
- Certain dates on the timeline contain arrows. The arrows reflect the ability for dates to move into the future depending on:
- The duration of Board of Pharmacy's review prior to the program operator's stewardship plan submittal to CalRecycle;
- Potential stewardship plan resubmittals; and
- The time it may require CalRecycle to consult with other state agencies.
- The timeline starts with the regulations’ effective date of January 7, 2021. The six-month stewardship plan development phase begins.
- During the stewardship plan development phase, a program operator must submit its stewardship plan to Board of Pharmacy and other applicable agencies.
- CalRecycle’s 90-day review period starts when the program operator submits the stewardship plan to CalRecycle by July 7, 2021. This date has an arrow.
- CalRecycle completeness review by August 6, 2021. This date has an arrow.
- The 270-day Implementation phase starts with CalRecycle stewardship plan approval by October 5, 2021. This date has an arrow.
- Covered entities are subject to penalties if covered product is not subject to an approved stewardship plan by January 7, 2022.
- Program operator submits its first annual report to CalRecycle March 31, 2022.
- CalRecycle is required to post first list of compliant entities June 30, 2022.
- Stewardship plan fully implemented July 2, 2022. This date has an arrow.
Pharmaceutical and Sharps Waste Stewardship
Why focus on Pharmaceutical and Sharps Waste?
Unwanted and improperly managed pharmaceutical drugs and sharps present significant public health, safety, and environmental problems at the end of their useful lives. These include negative impacts to water quality, sanitation, and solid waste, hazards for recycling workers, and increased potential for accidental poisonings and abuse by persons for which the medication was not intended.
What is being done?
Governor Brown approved Senate Bill 212 (Jackson, Chapter 1004, Statutes of 2018) September 30, 2018 to establish safe and
convenient disposal options for pharmaceutical drug and home-generated sharps waste.
- Listserv: : Click here to sign up for email updates related to CalRecycle’s oversight of the Pharmaceutical and Sharps Waste Stewardship Law. You can review previous messages by visiting the Pharmaceutical and Sharps Waste Stewardship Listserv Archive.
- Public Notices: For public notices related to CalRecycle’s oversight of the Pharmaceutical and Sharps Waste Stewardship Law (e.g., department decisions regarding regulations, plan approval, etc.) please visit the CalRecycle public notices page.
- CalRecycle Contact: Please contact pharmasharps@calrecycle.ca.gov for questions or more information.
- Board of Pharmacy Contact: Please contact BOPstewardship@dca.ca.gov for questions or to submit information, pursuant to sections 42031 and 42032(b)(1) of the Public Resources Code.
- California Department of Public Health Contact: Please contact MedicalWaste@cdph.ca.gov for questions.
- California Department of Toxic Substances Control: Please visit this webpage and contact PharmStewardship@dtsc.ca.gov for questions.
Potential Stewardship Organizations
Covered entities interested in joining a stewardship organization may contact the stewardship organizations listed below that intend to submit a stewardship plan to CalRecycle.
Potential Program Operator for Covered Drugs
- MED-Project, Pharmaceutical Product Stewardship Work Group
- The Drug Take Back Solutions Foundation
www.ppswg.org/
1800 M Street, NW Suite 400 South
Washington, DC 20036
CONTACT:
Stanton J. Barrett, Vice-President, Membership and Communications
sbarrett@ppswg.org
202-580-6298
CONTACT:
Kirk Herweck, Director of Consumer Drug Take-Back
take-back@inmar.com
1-800-350-0396 Option 5
Potential Program Operator for Home-Generated Sharps Waste
- MED-Project, Pharmaceutical Product Stewardship Work Group
- The Drug Take Back Solutions Foundation
www.ppswg.org/
1800 M Street, NW Suite 400 South
Washington, DC 20036
CONTACT:
Stanton J. Barrett, Vice-President, Membership and Communications
sbarrett@ppswg.org
202-580-6298
CONTACT:
Kirk Herweck, Director of Consumer Drug Take-Back
take-back@inmar.com
1-800-350-0396 Option 5