New York state awards Covanta contract for pharmaceutical take back program

Covanta Environmental Solutions, an environmental services provider to the healthcare sector and a range of other industries based in Morristown, New Jersey, has been awarded a contract for the New York Department of Environmental Conservation's (DEC's) pilot pharmaceutical take back program. The five-year program allows for the installation of kiosks at 250 retail pharmacies, hospitals and long-term care facilities across New York state where consumers will be able to return unused and expired medications for safe and secure disposal.

Covanta is responsible for the collection and disposal from participating locations. Collected medications will be processed at Covanta's energy-from-waste facilities. Covanta's facilities have previously handled the secure destruction of pharmaceutical and controlled drug substance waste regulated by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Since 2010, Covanta has disposed of more than 4 million pounds of unused and expired medications and pharmaceuticals from take back programs. 

"We are pleased to have the opportunity to be a part of New York state's pilot drug take back program," Paul Stauder, president of Covanta, says. "Through our work with regulatory agencies, law enforcement and environmental advocates, we have become a resource for communities nationwide looking to properly and responsibly discard unwanted drugs. We are proud to provide this same service to the people of New York state. Preventing accidental poisonings and protecting the public from these drugs is of utmost importance, but also making sure our environment and water isn't negatively impacted from improper disposal is essential as well. We commend New York state for making this important issue a priority."

For more information, visit www.covanta.com/Our-Solutions/Healthcare-Solutions.