Office of Public Affairs
For Immediate Release: February 26, 2026
Media Contact: Lance Klug | OPA@calrecycle.ca.gov
SACRAMENTO – Documenting ongoing failures to provide safe, convenient disposal options for Californians’ pharmaceutical and home-generated sharps waste, CalRecycle is seeking $3.4 million against the outgoing nonprofit that runs two industry-funded takeback programs. The Drug Takeback Solutions Foundation (Foundation), made up of drug and sharps producers, failed to meet legally mandated budget, program operations, and consumer convenience requirements.
“California established producer responsibility requirements for medication and sharps waste to make sure these materials are managed safely and don’t jeopardize public health,” CalRecycle Deputy Director Mark de Bie said. “California will hold organizations accountable when they fail to meet their obligations to consumers and the law.”
CalRecycle Files $3.4 Million Administrative Accusation
CalRecycle outlined repeated violations in an administrative accusation citing:
- Failure to implement the takeback programs
- Noncompliant budgets
- Late payment of program administration costs
The accusation seeks $1.7 million for Foundation’s pharmaceutical stewardship program and $1.7 million for its sharps stewardship program for violations in 2022 and 2023. Foundation’s subsequent annual report and budget have also been disapproved, and Foundation was noncompliant based on the reported information.
California’s Pharmaceutical and Sharps Waste Stewardship Program
California’s pharmaceutical and sharps waste stewardship law (SB 212, Jackson, Chapter 1004, Statutes of 2018) requires industry-funded and managed programs to provide free, convenient consumer disposal options for household medications and sharps (such as needles, syringes, and lancets). Foundation announced it will end its programs on June 30, 2026, while programs managed by another stewardship organization continue to operate statewide.
Foundation has the opportunity to respond to CalRecycle’s accusation and request an administrative hearing.
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CalRecycle's mission is to protect California's environment and climate for the health and prosperity of future generations through the reduction, reuse and recycling of California resources, environmental education, disaster recovery, and the transition from a disposable to a fully circular economy.