MADISON – 
Pharmaceuticals collected at household pharmaceutical waste collection facilities or events will continue to receive relief from some state regulatory requirements for another two years, under a decision issued by the Department of Natural Resources. This includes those pharmaceuticals collected, confiscated or otherwise taken into possession by law enforcement officials.
In June 2006, the DNR issued an enforcement discretion memorandum that conditionally exempted household pharmaceutical waste from the state’s hazardous waste and solid waste rules. Based on the continued interest and success of pharmaceutical collection efforts across the state, the department decided to renew this exemption. The exemption applies specifically to pharmaceuticals collected at household pharmaceutical waste collection facilities or events, as well as those collected, confiscated or otherwise taken into possession by law enforcement officials.
“Properly disposing of unwanted pharmaceutical waste helps protect public health and the environment,” said Joanie Burns, chief of the DNR Hazardous Waste Prevention and Management Section. “Requiring law enforcement agencies/offices to comply with stringent hazardous waste requirements intended for large or permanent waste collection sites could ultimately discourage household pharmaceutical waste collections.”
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