More than 40 boxes of products are headed to the dumpster instead of families in need.

Caritas of Waco is a company that provides those in need with food, clothes and household items. However, the state health department has ordered for some of Caritas' products to be destroyed.

Salome Guajardo is a regular Caritas client. He said the organization helps him make it month to month.

"They help me with food and things you need at the house. Household needs like toothpaste, soap sometimes," Guajardo said.

Most of the household items at Caritas are donated by the Walmart return center. The state health department says these products do not fall under Caritas' existing salvage license.

Dozens of boxes full of goods donated to Caritas, like band-aids and over the counter medication, were shrink wrapped and detained by the health department.

The department said to distribute such items would require a medical devices and over the counter medicine permit.

		WATCH THE VIDEO
	Caritas of Waco News 8’s Bonnie Gonzalez has more on how Caritas of Waco has had to give up dozens of boxes of product to landfills instead of families in need.

"Currently we are working with the health department and also with Walmart to make sure we do get amendments to our licensure to make sure that we're covered," Executive director of the Caritas Buddy Edwards said.

A spokesperson with the health department said they also had concerns with some products that were not in original packaging.

However, items like shampoo or toothpaste are considered cosmetics and can be distributed without a license if they are easily identified.

The health department released the following statement.

"If the product is in its original, undamaged package, Caritas can give that product to people seeking donations. Our focus is on preventing mislabeled or damaged drugs from harming consumers."

The health department also said Walmart didn't have a license allowing it to distribute medical goods.

Walmart said it believed it was exempt because of a rule under the Texas Administrative Code that states a person is exempt from licensing if "a person transfers distressed drugs to a licensed salvage broker or salvage operator."

The Walmart return center has stopped sending the prohibited products for now, but said it will resume after making sure Caritas does get the right permit.

	Helpful Links
•Click here to view the Texas Administrative Code on the regulation of drug salvage establishments and brokers. •Click here for more information on the rules on selling medical goods for Salvage Brokers and Establishments from the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Edwards is working with area landfills to find out where to bring the boxes full of product he can't sell.

"The health department will be coming back and will work with us in terms of actually removing them from our warehouse and taking them to the landfill," Edwards said.

More than 40 boxes of products will now be headed to the dumpster instead of to families in need.

Edwards said they've had the donation program with the Walmart return center for five years and have never had any problems.

The health department said it does inspections on a yearly basis.

	Many depend on Caritas of Waco for clothes, food and household items.

Edwards also said this matter does not affect the organization's ability to give out food and clothing.

For more information about the Caritas of Waco, visit Caritas-Waco.org.