Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal: What It Is and How to Do It Safely

Understanding Pharmaceutical Waste

Understanding how to dispose of pharmaceutical waste safely is essential to protect yourself, the people around you and the individuals involved in waste collection.

At Trust Hygiene, we have extensive experience in handling the proper disposal of medical waste. For commercial businesses, we provide a range of hygiene and disposal services. However, having knowledge of safe disposal is vital whether you will be handling the waste yourself or leaving it in the hands of trained professionals.

What is Pharmaceutical Waste?

‘Pharmaceutical waste’ refers to the disposal of unused, expired, damaged or contaminated medications and related items that cannot be used or returned.

These materials may be harmful to you, other people or even wildlife if they are disposed of via usual waste disposal methods. For example, syringes and other sharps present a risk to health if they are placed in normal waste, including the transmission of bloodborne viruses. Improperly disposed-of medications could also be consumed by a pet or other animals if not handled through the correct methods.

If you are a business, you have a legal duty of care to handle, store, and dispose of pharmaceutical waste safely in compliance with the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Common Types of Pharmaceutical Waste

Pharmaceutical waste can be broken down into several categories, each with their own unique storage and disposal method.

• Expired medications – Even if still sealed, expired medications no longer meet safety or efficacy standards and must be disposed of in line with pharmaceutical waste regulations in the UK to prevent accidental use and environmental harm.
• Unused prescription drugs – Rather than throwing them away with general rubbish, these must be securely stored and disposed of using licensed collection and disposal services.
• Contaminated items – Also known as hazardous or clinical waste, this can include gloves, syringes, packaging and IV tubes that have come into contact with medications or are contaminated with blood, for example.
• Cytotoxic and chemotherapy drugs – Cancer is treated with highly toxic drugs and substances which require specialist handling and high-temperature incineration to prevent harm to humans and the environment.
• Controlled substances – Under The Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, with many regulations updated from the 1971 Act, proper disposal of controlled substances involves documentation, a witness and often the use of denaturing kits with licensed destruction.
• Vaccines and biological medicines – These may contain live agents or require cold storage, which demands expert handling in accordance with strict waste management standards.

Each type of pharmaceutical waste will pose different risks to the public and the environment, meaning it must be segregated, labelled and destroyed – or recycled if possible – in line with UK law.

The Risks of Improper Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal

Safe and proper disposal methods ensure the environmental impact of pharmaceutical waste and the harm posed to humans are greatly reduced. While businesses should (we hope) have the correct storage and disposal solutions in place, many people at home still dispose of pharmaceutical waste and medicines incorrectly. The consequences of which can include:

• Water contamination – Unfortunately, many disposed of drugs in the UK are not removed by standard water treatment, with traces of medications ending up in rivers, affecting aquatic life and entering the food chain.
• Illegal drug misuse – Whether it’s Class A or Class B controlled substances, illegal drugs or leftover prescriptions, these can be left in waste bins and retrieved and abused, contributing to crime and drug misuse.
• Accidental poisoning – Children and pets are extremely vulnerable to accidental exposure to medicines that have not been secured or properly disposed of. This means settings such as schools, vets and nurseries require stringent waste management if dealing with any pharmaceutical waste.
• Regulatory breaches – Businesses handling pharmaceutical waste, including those in the public and healthcare sectors, are required to meet stringent legal compliances for disposal in line with the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in anything from fixed penalty notices and fines to time served in prison for severe negligence.

How to Dispose of Pharmaceutical Waste Safely

Safe disposal of pharmaceutical waste is an easy task with the correct processes in place. You can follow these steps to maintain compliance and protect the environment:

1. Make sure you have the correct waste bins: Under NHS guidelines, five different bins are available with distinct colour coding, enabling you to properly segregate waste.
2. Segregate waste types in line with NHS guidelines: Waste should be placed in the correct colour-coded container. The Home Office and Environment Agency do not recommend attempting to destroy medications at home.
3. Apply denaturing kits where relevant: Businesses can use denaturing kits to neutralise dangerous medications where it is applicable to the specific waste.
4. Store waste safely on-site or in your home: Waste bins should be kept safely locked away to avoid accidental exposure but should still be continually available for use. In the home, bins should be placed out of reach of children and pets.
5. Check fill levels regularly: Check to see if the waste has reached the fill line or is at the ¾ full level to avoid stuffing, as this could lead to sharps injuries or bag ruptures.
6. Dispose of waste safely: Partnering with a registered waste management company, such as Trust Hygiene, ensures authorised collection and disposal. People with bins at home can take them to an approved pharmacist or doctor’s surgery.

The NHS has instituted a standard pharmaceutical waste colour-coding system for the UK in HTM 07-01. The bin colour coding is as follows:

• Yellow: Infectious, chemically contaminated waste including syringes, pipettes and broken glass.
• Orange: Potentially contaminated waste such as PPE and non-sharps.
• Purple: Cytotoxic and cytostatic waste, including ampoules, syringes and vials used in chemotherapy and similar medical practices.
• Yellow and black: Offensive and hygiene-related waste such as masks, lab coats and non-infectious gloves.
• Red: Anatomical waste.
• Blue: Medicinal waste, such as expired testing kits and medicines.
• White: Dental waste.

Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal for Businesses and Healthcare Facilities

Failure to have medical waste disposal bins and follow the laws of pharmaceutical waste disposal will result in fines, inspections or revoked licences. Organisations that these regulations apply to include:

• Hospitals and clinics
• General practitioners
• Dental practices
• Veterinary clinics
• Community pharmacies
• Care and nursing homes
• Pharmaceutical manufacturers
• Research and diagnostic labs
• Aesthetics clinics

All relevant companies must adhere to strict disposal protocols, including:

• Appointing a waste lead or officer to oversee compliance and training.
• Follow segregation and storage guidelines set in HTM (Health Technical Memorandum) 07-01.
• Appoint an authorised person to witness the denaturing of controlled drugs and substances.
• Complete consignment notes for hazardous waste transfer and disposal.
• Work with a licensed pharmaceutical waste disposal company to provide audits and regular collection services.

Home Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal: What You Need to Know

What about pharmaceutical waste disposal at home? Just as businesses have certain criteria to meet, it’s important for the public to be conscious of how they dispose of this waste type. Here are the pharmaceutical waste management best practices for homeowners:

• Do not flush or bin them – Flushing expired or unwanted pills and medicines down the toilet will pose a significant threat to the environment, contaminating sewage systems and rivers throughout your local area. Throwing them in general waste bins is an easy way for children or pets to face harm.
• Local pharmacies to the rescue – UK pharmacies provide the service to safely dispose of medicines and other waste. So, any expired pills or environmentally hazardous left-over medicines can be taken to your local branch.
• Remove personal information – Before discarding empty containers or packaging, or leftover expired substances, it’s best to remove any personal prescription information, but equally important to not remove medication from bottles or blister packets.
• Never attempt to burn or chemically destroy medicines at home.

If you have any concerns about how to dispose of pharmaceutical waste at home, it’s best to contact your local pharmacy which can advise on the best practices.

Conclusion

Managing medical waste properly is essential to comply with pharmaceutical waste legislation in the UK as a business. If you have waste at home, it’s important to meet these standards too by following the necessary steps to protect people and the environment.

At Trust Hygiene, we can support your compliance with services for the safe removal and disposal of medical waste, ensuring your legal responsibilities are met. We offer consistent collection dates and an adaptable service to match your requirements, with disposal conducted at our Band A rated facility. Contact us today to learn more.