Updated Rules for EPA hazardous pharmaceutical waste Sewering

Acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler signed off on new rules last December for managing hazardous waste pharmaceuticals. The 491 pages are an effort to streamline disposal requirements, making them more appropriate to the unique characteristics of healthcare enterprises, “while maintaining protection of human health and the environment.”

What’s important to note, however, is that along with streamlining applicable standards for the healthcare industry, the new rule also aims to reduce the amount of pharmaceutical waste entering US waterways by roughly 40 percent, and it does so by prohibiting the “sewering” of any hazardous pharmaceutical waste.

In other words, if you’re the owner or manager of a healthcare facility, be advised that much of what used to go literally “down the drain” henceforth will require hazardous waste management under penalty of federal law.

So how are pharmaceutical hazardous wastes classified?

There are two kinds of hazardous waste according to the EPA.

• Characteristic hazardous wastes possess noxious “characteristics” such as corrosivity, ignitability, reactivity, and/or toxicity.
• Listed hazardous wastes don’t exhibit such noxious “characteristics” per se. Instead, because they’re byproducts of processes that typically produce such hazardous wastes, they’re arbitrarily deemed to require hazardous waste disposal.

Any number of common drug formulations might meet the definitions of ignitability and toxicity; and some drug formulations might be derivatives of processes that typically produce hazardous waste. Hazardous waste management is required in both cases when you dispose of them.

The “P” and “U” lists

The EPA maintains two lists of pure and commercial-grade formulations of certain unused chemicals that the Agency designates as hazardous waste. Called the “P” and “U” lists, they include such common drugs such as warfarin, cyclophosphamide, and lindane.

Bear in mind, however, that some pharmaceutical products that don’t conform to technical EPA definitions of hazardous waste might nonetheless be potentially harmful and thereby make hazardous waste removal advisable to avert any unforeseen liabilities. These might be:

• Formulations containing P- or U-listed drugs
• Chemotherapy agents not already listed as RCRA hazardous
• Vitamin or mineral preparations containing selenium or cadmium

And your potential liabilities are not limited to pharmaceuticals. Vials, bags, and protective gear that contain trace quantities of toxic substances must be properly managed, along with spilled liquids and pills, and even packaging.

Are you managing your pharmaceutical waste products legally?

EPA requirements dictate methods for the proper identification, segregation, and management of pharmaceutical wastes, particularly those considered to be hazardous waste. A quick audit of your operation can alert you to serious liabilities. For example, make sure that:

• Untrained personnel aren’t pouring unused IV or other fluid compounds down drains
• P- or U-listed wastes aren’t being mixed with nonhazardous wastes and then improperly discarded
• More than trace amounts of P- or U-listed substances remain in discarded vials, IVs, or syringes found in your yellow chemo-waste containers
• Pharmaceutical waste isn’t ending up in your sharps containers

So what’s the upshot?

EPA requirements for managing pharmaceutical hazardous waste impacts a broad spectrum of healthcare enterprises, including pharmacies, hospitals, dental offices, medical clinics, and more.

Different types of pharmaceutical wastes carry different risks and are governed by different sets of regulations. And bear in mind: State regulations are commonly in excess of EPA requirements.

The EPA can assess civil penalties of up to $27,500 per day per violation; or criminal penalties of $50,000 per day and up to 5 years in jail. And each state environmental agency has its own enforcement authority on top of that of the EPA.

In sum, as in all things involving the EPA, expert advice is crucial. For expert advice on how to manage and dispose of your pharmaceutical waste call Hazardous Waste Experts at (800) 936-2311 or click here to email us.

Hazardous Waste Experts also offers affordable and fully EPA compliant pharmaceutical waste disposal services.

* The featured image used in this post is from the 28th Medical Support Squadron pharmacy and can be found here.