Santa Cruz Requiring Prescription Drug Makers To Dispose Unwanted Meds

SANTA CRUZ (CBS SF) -- Santa Cruz last week became the first U.S. city to pass a law requiring producers and retailers of prescription drugs to collect and dispose of any drugs patients don't want.

The Extended Producers Responsibility Ordinance, passed by the City Council last Tuesday, requires producers and retailers to develop programs to dispose of the unwanted medication as well as other products such as needles and syringes.

The law goes into effect next month. Each of the more than 30 pharmacies in Santa Cruz will have to present a plan to city officials explaining how they're going to comply with the law.

Alameda County passed a similar law in 2012 and last year the U.S. Supreme Court denied a challenge to the law from the pharmaceutical industry, city officials said.