Can hospitals accept sharps from public?
• Ron Pilorin, CDPH: Yes, but many are reluctant due to liability issues. They must include the program in their MWM Plan. Some hospitals think they cannot accept from public. • Christina Mille, Tehama County, accepting sharps would bump the hospital up to a large quantity HW Generator. Jack McGurk, how much did Lake County pay? • $16/container. Where do the sharps go? • Carthage, Texas for incineration or autoclave. Which retailers/pharmacies participate? • Many…$81 to pick up containers (tubs) from Walgreen’s. Some sites have full bins; depends. Ousmane Sy, does pharmaceutical waste get mixed in with sharps waste? • Cannot say for sure, but has not been an issue. Ousmane Sy, what do mfgs do? • To date, nothing. Include costs in garbage rate: $80,000/ year for SF Program. Why do the hospitals pay? • Their costs for this program are insignificant compared to their other costs. Kari Holmes, are other Sutter facilities participating? • Not yet. Kari, in contact with other med. facilities
