The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors passed the Santa Barbara County Safe Drug Disposal Ordinance in June 2016. The new ordinance requires any producer of prescription and over-the-counter drugs offered for sale in Santa Barbara County to participate in an approved drug stewardship program for collection and disposal of unwanted medications.
The ordinance requires pharmaceutical manufacturers to manage and fund a comprehensive program to collect and dispose of County residents' unwanted prescription and over-the-counter drugs. The ordinance will make it easier for residents to safely dispose of medications by providing more collection sites geographically located throughout the county. The proper disposal of medications will help reduce risks to health and the environment.
The ordinance is based on the concept of "extended producer responsibility stewardship" (EPRS) which makes the product manufacturers financially responsible for the full costs of their products (including disposal). Safe drug disposal ordinances based on the extended producer responsibility model have recently been adopted in Alameda County, the City and County of San Francisco, San Mateo County, Santa Clara County and Marin County.
RESOURCES
Annual Reports
Extended Producer Responsibility Stewardship Ordinance
Current EPRS Plans
Other Resources:
Medicine Drop-Off Kiosk Locations
Contact Us:
Ric Hovsepian
Santa Barbara County Environmental Health Services
Program Coordinator
Secure Meds – Extended Producer Responsibility Stewardship Program
Richard.Hovsepian@sbcphd.org (805) 681-4759