HomeMy WebLinkAboutEmail from Brian Ring - SB 212 Letter of Support Menchaca, Clarissa
From: Ring, Brian
Sent: Tuesday,June 19, 2018 3:14 PM
To: Lambert, Steve; Kirk, Maureen; Connelly, Bill;Teeter, Doug;Wahl, Larry
Cc: McCracken, Shari;Snyder,Ashley, Menchaca, Clarissa
Subject: SB 212 Letter of Support
Attachments: SB 212 Letter of Support.pdf
Good afternoon Board members—
FYI —the attached letter of support went out this afternoon. The bill is consistent with our State legislative platform.
Please let me know if you have any questions on this. Thanks!
Brian Ring
Assistant Chief Administrative Officer
Administration
25 County Center Drive, Oroville, CA 95965
T: 530.552.3311 1 M: 530.570.7688 1 F:530.538.7120
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'r°~"' � •••. BOARD OF SUPERVISORS BILL CONNELLY
First District
*" r* ADMINISTRATION CENTER LARRY WAHL
25 COUNTY CENTER DRIVE,SUITE 200 -OROVILLE,CALIFORNIA 95965 Second District
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MAURi=EN KIRK
Third District
STEVE LAMBERT
Fourth District
DOUG TEETER
Fifth District
June 19, 2018
The Honorable Bill Quirk
Chair, Assembly Environmental Safety &Toxic Materials Committee
LOB, 1020 N St., Room 171
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: SB 212 (Jackson and Ting) Solid Waste: Pharmaceutical and Sharps Waste
Stewardship— SUPPORT
Dear Chair Quirk:
On behalf of the Butte County Board of Supervisors and the residents of Butte County, I
write to express our support for SB 212 (Jackson and Ting), which will establish a
comprehensive statewide take-back system for sharps and medications. These products
serve a vital need in protecting and preserving the health of Californians, but that is all
the more reason to also protect Californians from the inherent risks that occur when these
products become waste. Both sharps and medications present significant and well-
documented challenges for all Californians but especially local governments and
municipal workers when it comes to safe and convenient collection and disposal.
Despite the fact that California law (SB 1305 in 2006) has prohibited home-generated
sharps waste from being disposed of in trash or recycling containers, millions of needles
are discarded irresponsibly every year, resulting in an unacceptable risk of needle stick
injuries for parks, hotel, solid waste, wastewater, sanitation and other workers as well as
the general public.
CalRecycle estimates 936 million sharps used by consumers in California each year,
approximately 31% of those are thrown in the trash. Another study by University Mass
Lowell in 2015 estimated 7% of needles are flushed, and needle stick injuries occur with
unacceptable frequency. Improper disposal of sharps poses an unacceptable risk to many
Californians, and the statewide sharps collection program contained in SB 212 will
significantly reduce that risk.
Similarly, prescription, over the counter, and pet medications present significant problems
when leftover if not properly secured and disposed of. There is no question that
consumers have leftover drugs in their homes, which tend to be stockpiled, flushed, or
thrown in the garbage. Leftover drugs and a lack of safe and convenient disposal options
are fuel to the opioid epidemic and increase instances of accidental poisonings, and can
cause environmental harm. This is especially critical for Butte County as we have one of
the highest rates of death due to drug overdose in the state (CDPH age adjusted death
rate 2012-2017).
SB 212 addresses the myriad of problems that exist due to the lack of a statewide system
to manage these products at the end of their useful life. By requiring manufacturers of
sharps and pharmaceutical drugs to create, fund, and participate in a statewide take-back
system, this bill will take a groundbreaking step to ensure that California residents
throughout the state have access to safe, convenient disposal methods of sharps and
drugs, addressing important public health concerns.
This concept is built off well-functioning programs that exist all over the world —effective
take-back programs for these products are operated by manufacturers in Canada,
Mexico, many countries in Europe and South America, 12 local jurisdictions throughout
California (9 counties and three cities in Santa Cruz County). Establishing a
comprehensive statewide system will provide harmonization and clarity for manufacturers
and consumers alike.
California has debated this issue for long enough.We strongly urge you to take this logical
next step to protect California consumers and workers. For these reasons, Butte County
is pleased to express our support of SB 212 and respectfully request your "AYE" vote
when this bill is heard in your committee.
Respectfully,
Steve Lambert, air
Butte County Board of Supervisors
cc: Members, Board of Supervisors
Members and Consultants, Assembly Environmental Safety & Toxic Materials
Committee
The Honorable Jim Nielsen, Member California State Senate
The Honorable James Gallagher, Member California State Assembly
The Honorable Brian Dahle, Member California State Assembly
The Honorable Hannah-Beth Jackson, Member California State Senate
The Honorable Phil Ting, Member California State Assembly
The Honorable Adam Gray, Member California State Assembly
Graciela Castillo-Krings, Deputy Legislative Secretary, Office of Governor Brown
Rural County Representatives of California
California State Association of Counties
California Product Stewardship Council
Paul Yoder, Shaw, Yoder, Antwih, Inc.
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