News Room: SB 966: Pharmaceutical drug disposal

It's not environmentally safe to flush expired or unused medications down the toilet, so what's a consumer to do? Few drugstores accept them for safe disposal. Now, however, Leiter's Pharmacy in San Jose is offering to do just that on a regular basis for anyone willing to come to its Park Avenue storefront. read more ...

Palo Alto - A lot of stuff goes down the toilet that probably should not, for instance unwanted and expired prescription drugs. But the efforts of one Northern California teen helped put a new law into place that requires pharmacies to take back and properly dispose of the drugs. 18-year-old Rebecca Kassel looked into the issue, created her own website and campaigned for the new law. She was aided by State Senator Joe Simitan of Palo Alto, who holds an annual "There Ought to be a Law" contest. read more ...

Sacramento – Governor Schwarzenegger announced today that he has signed Senate Bill 966, a bill by State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) to put in place a drug “take-back” program to help ensure proper disposal of over the counter drugs and prescription pharmaceuticals. read more ...

You got well faster than expected. You bought more medicine than you needed, and now it's past the expiration date. Or you tried something and it didn't work. Those leftover medications are sitting in your medicine chest, and they're worse than just clutter. They're hazardous household waste. read more ...

Sacramento – State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) announced today that his Senate Bill (SB) 966, which puts in place a drug “take-back” program, passed the California State Senate by a 28-11 vote on Monday. The bill now goes to the Governor, who has 30 days to sign or veto it. read more ...

Sacramento – State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) was named Legislator of the Year today by Californians Against Waste, a statewide organization dedicated to advancing waste reduction and recycling policy in California. read more ...

How do you dispose of your leftover or expired medications? Do you flush them down the toilet or throw them in the trash? Do you leave them in your medicine cabinet until you move? read more ...

When state Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, learned that medications are polluting waterways nationwide, he decided to do something about it. His idea, which several San Diego County sewage agencies are expected to vote today to support, is to require pharmacies take back outdated or unneeded medications so residents don't flush them down the toilet. read more ...

Sacramento – State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) announced today that his SB 966, which puts in place a prescription drug disposal plan, passed the California State Senate on a 21-13 vote, with no margin to spare. The bill now moves to the State Assembly for a hearing in June or July. read more ...

Four Bay Area residents, including one Redwood City Elementary School Board trustee, won this year’s “There Oughta Be a Law” contest sponsored by state Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto. read more ...

If you've ever come across an issue or problem and thought, "there oughta be a law" about that, then this next story should interest you. State Senator Joe Simitian has announced the winners of his annual contest to see which Californians could come up with the best new bills. From Sacramento, Marianne Russ reports. read more ...