Collecting unwanted residential pharmaceuticals at pharmacies is a practical concept for
San Francisco. While collection at pharmacies will require certain regulatory and
management issues to be addressed, its convenience for residents means it would
probably be an effective waste pharmaceutical collection method. The regulatory issues
that need to be addressed to establish a collection program at pharmacies include:
California hazardous waste permitting, HIPAA, and DEA controlled substance
requirements. Other issues that will need to be addressed in program design are safety
in handling and storing unwanted pharmaceuticals, convenience, and security.