In 2012, Alameda County, California (PDF) became the first county in the nation to require pharmaceutical companies to pay for the safe disposal of prescription medication. Trade associations representing drug manufacturers sued and lost in federal district court and in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. On May 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear their petition to review the Ninth Circuit's decision. King County's ordinance is similar to Alameda's and the decision is expected to smooth implementation. In California, in addition to Alameda County, San Francisco, San Mateo, and recently Santa Clara, counties have all adopted extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies for pharmaceuticals. For more on pharmaceutical EPR, see the Product Stewardship Institute fact sheet (PDF) and the California Product Stewardship Council website.