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

Posted on Apr 08, 2025

Understanding Pharmaceutical Waste

The proper disposal of controlled substances, including medication, needles, pills and items used in drug preparation and administration, is crucial to protect public health, safeguard the environment and comply with UK regulations.

Whether you’re a healthcare professional or a business looking for reliable and legal pharmaceutical waste disposal solutions, the waste management experts at Trust Hygiene are here to help. We’ll explain the best practices for disposing of this waste stream, from the risks associated with poor waste management to the regulatory requirements businesses must adhere to and the safe medication disposal methods for both businesses and homes.

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 healthcare waste regulations to prevent accidental use and environmental harm.
• Unused prescription drugs – Rather than throwing 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 – For businesses, public sectors and healthcare providers, they should know how to dispose of expired medicine properly to avoid fines, enforcement actions and reputational damage and follow the guidelines set in the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005.

How to Dispose of Pharmaceutical Waste Safely

Safe medication disposal methods for businesses involve several key steps and solutions.

• Segregate pharmaceutical waste types – Different medical waste streams need designated colour-coded bins for safe storage and waste collection. For example, purple bins are for cytotoxic waste, while yellow bins are for infectious waste contaminated with medicines. These must be licensed storage bins, clearly labelled, leak-proof and secure.
• Apply denaturing kits for controlled drugs – Proper disposal of controlled substances involves rendering substances unusable with denaturing kits.
• Store waste safely on site – Along with the various waste bins for medical waste, these must be kept locked away and stored in secure areas until collection to avoid tampering or accidental exposure.
• Use licensed waste carriers – Partnering with a registered waste management company, such as Trust Hygiene, ensures authorised collection and disposal.
  

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. Hospitals, pharmacies, veterinary practices, dental clinics and research labs 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

Proper pharmaceutical waste disposal isn’t just a suggestion, it’s a necessity to ensure the risk of harm to both the public and the environment is minimal, if not eliminated. Healthcare providers, business owners and homeowners have a responsibility to safely dispose of medical waste, to stay compliant with legislation and protect our environment and community.