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The California Senate enacted Senate Bill 212 (SB 212) which would create a statewide drug and needle take-back program.

SB 212 would require entities that sell drugs or sharps in the state of California to individually (or with other entities) develop and implement a statewide home-generated drug stewardship plan, or a home-generated waste stewardship plan, or both for the collection and proper disposal of home-generated drugs and sharps waste.

The California Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery would oversee and enforce each stewardship plan.

The California Product Stewardship Council describes the legislation as the first in the nation to establish a comprehensive, producer-funded take-back program for home-generated pharmaceutical drugs and sharps waste.

An environmental purpose of the legislation is described as protecting solid waste, parks, hotel, wastewater, sanitation and other workers, river and beach clean-up volunteers, and the public from needle stick injuries. It is also intended to protect water supply and water resources from unused or discarded prescription drugs.

SB 212 will now be considered for execution by California Governor Brown.

A copy of SB 212 can be found here.