Question: Is there a state law regarding reusing plastic pill containers issued by pharmacies? To reduce the amount of plastic going into the landfill, I have been asking the pharmacist to refill my monthly prescription reusing the same plastic container. They have been doing this for quite a while, but I was told recently that there is a state law prohibiting the reuse of plastic containers. I can understand the concern if the request is for a different medicine, but refilling with the same medicine?
Answer: There is no state law that “expressly prohibits reusing medicine containers,” according to an official with the state Department of Health’s Food and Drug Branch.
However, there is a federal law, the Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970, that does prohibit reusing plastic prescription containers.
Lee Ann Teshima, executive officer of the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Protection’s Board of Pharmacy, pointed to guidelines the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued to health care professionals regarding the packaging of a variety of hazardous household products, including most oral prescription drugs.
Under the Poison Prevention Packaging Act, it would be correct to say that plastic containers are not to be reused, although a pharmacist has the discretion to reuse glass ones, as long as the cap is replaced, Teshima said.
She pointed to the commission’s answer to one of its “frequently asked questions” in its guidelines: “In the case of refills, can prescription bottles and vials be reused?”
The answer: “As a general rule, no. This prohibition is based on the wear associated with a plastic vial, which could compromise the package’s effectiveness. Since such wear or undetected damage with a glass container is negligible, the (Consumer Product Safety Commission) staff has indicated that it would have no objection to the reuse of a glass container, provided a new closure is used. This same consideration would be given to any other package type that is not prone to wear.”
Question: I have noticed that a lot of vehicles on the road with long surfboards, paddleboards or kayaks without a warning flag at the end. They extend about 4 to 5 feet and some are low, making it a hazard to the following vehicle. Is there a regulation on how far they can extend and how high they should be?
Answer: Section 291-34 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes sets the limits regarding the width, length and height of vehicles.
Basically, for passenger vehicles, the width cannot exceed 9 feet; the height, 14 feet; and the length, 45 feet. That’s all including the load.
(The limits obviously are greater for trucks, semitrailers, farm equipment, vehicles with attached trailers or semitrailers, etc. Depending on the load and vehicle, an escort vehicle may be required.)
Section 291-34 also says a load or projection should not obstruct the driver’s vision or impair his/her ability to control the equipment and should be at least 7 feet above the roadway if it extends beyond the front tires. It doesn’t address the height of the rear extensions.
HRS Section 291-24 specifies that a red light or red flag must be attached to the load at the “extreme end” if it extends 4 feet or more beyond the rear of the vehicle.
A red light is required in addition to taillights when it’s dark out; while a flag, at least 16 inches square, should be attached at other times.
MAHALO
To the Hawaii Kai firefighters and Emergency Medical Services crew who rendered aid to my 15-year-old son when he cracked his skull a year ago at the Hawaii Kai skate park. We want to thank them for always doing a great job in our community. My son now wears a helmet whenever he skates. — John Kolivas
____
Write to "Kokua Line" at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
