Medications Return Programs
in Canada
P O S T- C O N S U M E R P H A R M A C E U T I C A L
S T E W A R D S H I P A S S O C I AT I O N
MAY 2011
Outline
2
 History
 Mission / Roles
 Medications Return Program
 Other programs
History
3
 Federal non profit corporation (1999)
 All industry board
 Brand-name, Generic and Consumer-Health Products
 Focus on pharmaceutical and natural health
products to meet provincial regulations
Guiding Principles
4
 Level playing field for all companies
 Shared responsibility
 Consumer waste stream
 Effectiveness Economic and environmental
 Standards - Environmental
Management Roles
5
 Extended Producer Responsibility / Industry
Stewardship Plan
 Develop program plan
 Implement program
 Administer program
 Reporting
MRP Approach
6
 Offer “one stop” for product stewards
 Common fee structure
 Harmonization of product definitions
 Central administration
 Single board of directors
 Build technical expertise
MRP Review
7
Administration
 Revenue/fees
 Compliance reviews
 Steward relations
Communications
Operations
 Collection system
 Transportation
 Disposal
Medications Return Program
8
 You
can take outdated or
unused medicines to your
community pharmacy.
 No
fee
Medications Return Program
9
 Pharmacists
are in an ideal
position to assess and act on
the individual patient's
reasons for returning
medication and to assist in
the safe disposal of unwanted
drugs.
Medications Return Program
10
 YES ACCEPTED

 All prescription drugs
 All prescription drugs
 OTC’c
 OTC
Medications
 Natural health products





(pills/liquids)
Natural Health Product
Anti-fungal creams
Anti-bacterial creams
Inhalers
Loose pills
Blister packs
Patches
No free
liquids
NO
Sharps, Syringes or Needles
Shampoos
Mouthwash
Antiperspirants
Antiseptics
Pharmaceuticals from farms
Hospitals
pharmacy
Expired samples
Medications Return Program
11

Once the MRP container is full, the pharmacist contacts the
Administrator who arranges for pick up and replacement of
containers within 7 days.

The Program Administrator consolidates and then sends the
collected residual medications to a licensed facility for safe
disposal.
Medications Return Program
12
 Value added service to their clientele.
 Containers are behind pharmacist’s counters
 No special security measures are taken.
 No differentiation is made between controlled,
narcotics and other drugs.
 Full containers are picked up by DHL, UPS or private
company and replaced with new containers.
 Containers are stored until we can shipped to
incineration facility.
 No escort is required to accompany drugs in transit.
Funding Mechanism
13
 In 2010, the costs of the BC program and national
office was $ 500,000.00; 2011 is $585,000.00.
 The cost of running the program is paid in full by the
industries.
 The pharmaceutical and consumer health sectors
contributions are based on collected returns and
market share.
Medications Return Program
14
 Allows the public to return unused or expired medications
to pharmacies.
 No eco-fee. No fee to participate.
 The program has been running for
12 years without incident.
MRP Results
15
Kilos
70000.00
60000.00
50000.00
40000.00
30000.00
20000.00
10000.00
0.00
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Provincial Programs
16
Regulated

British Columbia

Manitoba
Under development

Newfoundland
Voluntary Programs

Alberta

Saskatchewan

Nova Scotia

Prince Edward Island

New Brunswick
Recycling Regulation
Hazardous/Prescribed Household Material
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)
EnviRx
Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal
Medication Disposal Program (PANS)
Take-it-back
Multi Material Stewardship Board
Challenges
17
Variations between province
 Definitions
 Stewards
 Reporting
 Industry / Government
Challenges
18
 Single program/multiple programs within one
regulation
 Targets/penalties
 Consumer products v commercial
 Impact of hazardous waste regulations
Questions
19
Ginette Vanasse
Executive Director
PCPSA
406-1111 Prince of Wales Dr.
Ottawa, ON K2C 3T2
613-723-7282
ginette.vanasse@medicationsreturn.ca
http://www.medicationsreturn.ca