Supervisors refer proposed drug stewardship ordinance after sponsor outlines take‑back plan

An ordinance that would amend San Francisco’s Environment Code to require producers of drugs sold in the city to participate in an approved drug stewardship program was introduced on Tuesday and referred back to the Board’s Public Safety Committee.

The ordinance sponsor described the measure as an effort to reduce pharmaceutical contamination of wastewater, prevent accidental poisonings, and curb recreational misuse by creating an industry‑funded take‑back system for unwanted residential medications. The sponsor said existing local programs such as San Mateo County’s receptacle system — with collection boxes at police stations and participating pharmacies — provided a model.

The sponsor told the board the proposal would not rely on the city’s general fund and urged the pharmaceutical industry to assume shared financial…