The Safe Disposal of Pharmaceutical Products
The NHS alone produces 156,000 tonnes of clinical waste each year. That’s not even including how much clinical waste pharmacies, care homes and even your own home produces. When you add it all together, that’s a lot of waste that needs to be disposed of. But pharmaceutical waste can’t be disposed of by simply putting it in the bin. The potentially hazardous nature of this waste means you must follow a proper procedure to ensure other people and the environment are not harmed.
In this guide, we delve into the ins and outs of safe pharmaceutical waste disposal to ensure you know the correct procedure to follow whether you are a business or an individual. Find out more about safe disposal and comply with pharmaceutical waste disposal regulations in the UK today.
- What is Pharmaceutical Waste?
- Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal Regulations in the UK
- The Disposal of Expired Medicines in Hospitals
- The Disposal of Pharmaceutical Products in a Pharmacy
- How to Dispose of Pharmaceutical Products at Home
- Why You Should Dispose of Pharmaceutical Products Properly
- Get in Touch for Professional Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal from Woosh
What is Pharmaceutical Waste?
Pharmaceutical waste is any medication or drug that is unused, contaminated, damaged or expired. This also includes any products or packaging that come into contact with pharmaceutical products including personal protective equipment (PPE), glass vials, syringes or needles, bodily fluids and even alcohol hand sanitisers that contain siloxanes.
Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal Regulations in the UK
There are three main pharmaceutical waste disposal regulations you need to be aware of when disposing of any waste. This includes the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005, Controlled Waste Regulations 2012, and the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Each of these regulations outline the importance of disposing of pharmaceutical waste correctly and how incorrect disposal can lead to environmental contamination or bring harm to human and animal health.
Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005
These regulations classify pharmaceutical waste as potentially hazardous and require specialised handling. Pharmacies and healthcare facilities must correctly categorise different types of pharmaceutical waste, use specialised containers for different waste types, maintain detailed tracking and documentation and ensure disposal through licensed waste management companies.
Controlled Waste Regulations 2012
Controlled Waste Regulations in the UK provide a more stringent framework for managing pharmaceutical waste with a particular focus on medications with high potential for misuse or significant health risks. Some key aspects of this regulation include the categorisation of drugs based on their potential for abuse, a two-person witnessing of destruction of the drug and guidelines on the security measures that must be in place in any healthcare facility handling these types of substances.
Environmental Protection Act 1990
This act establishes broader guidelines for waste management focusing on the effect on the environment. By following correct pharmaceutical waste disposal, your healthcare facility can minimise environmental contamination and prevent potential harm to human and animal health.
The Disposal of Expired Medicines in Hospitals
The NHS has created a new strategy to ensure the correct disposal of drugs in hospitals, pharmacies and other healthcare facilities in line with regulations. Any unused, expired, damaged or contaminated pharmaceutical waste is currently sent to be incinerated creating an additional source of energy and making the most of the waste. (This is what we do with your waste too!)
But with tonnes of waste being produced and the growing pressure to become more environmentally-friendly, this new strategy pushes other means before incineration. By implementing a waste hierarchy, waste must be put through a series of levels to ensure the most environmentally-friendly method of disposal is used before any waste is either incinerated or goes to landfill. For example, instead of sending packaging from pharmaceutical waste straight to incineration, it may be recycled instead as this is a more eco-friendly solution.
The Disposal of Pharmaceutical Products in a Pharmacy
When it comes to pharmaceutical waste disposal in a pharmacy, pharmacy owners must register with the Environment Agency and follow the strict guidelines as set out above to ensure the safe disposal of products.
- Waste Segregation: Pharmacies must begin by separating pharmaceutical waste into different categories including cytotoxic medicines, controlled drugs, hazardous pharmaceutical waste and sharps.
- Collection and Storage: With specialised colour-coded and labelled containers, the various types of pharmaceutical waste can be kept in secure designated areas ready to be collected.
- Documentation: Each batch of pharmaceutical waste must be tracked with detailed inventory logs, tracking numbers and signatures of staff involved in the disposal process.
- Collection by Licensed Contractors: Only authorised pharmaceutical waste management companies can collect the waste to ensure it is disposed of correctly.
- Destruction Methods: The waste will then be taken to be disposed of via incineration, chemical treatment or for authorised landfill disposal for non-hazardous medications.
- Verification and Certification: After each step of the disposal process, documentation must be updated and contractors should provide official destruction certificates to state the pharmaceutical waste has been disposed of following guidelines. Pharmacies must retain this documentation for legal compliance and audit purposes.
How to Dispose of Pharmaceutical Products at Home
If you have any expired, unused or damaged pharmaceutical products at home, you must take them to a pharmacy to be disposed of. Throwing medication in household waste, flushing medication down the toilet or sink or giving unused medication to family and friends are big no-no’s! Using these methods of disposal will not only harm the environment but also human and animal health.
Returning medication to a pharmacy will ensure the safest methods of disposal are used. All you have to do is remove medication from their original packaging and black out your personal information on prescription labels, keep the medications in their original containers where possible and store the unused medication in a zip lock bag ready to be taken to the pharmacy. The pharmacy will take care of the rest!
Get in Touch for Professional Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal from Woosh
If you are a healthcare facility that is looking for a professional pharmaceutical waste disposal service, look no further than Woosh! At Woosh, we offer a range of disposal services including pharmaceutical waste, sanitary waste, sharps waste and more. Get in touch today for more information on our clinical waste disposal services and protect the environment from the dangers of pharmaceutical waste!
FAQs
How is medical waste disposed of in the UK?
Medical waste in the UK is disposed of through a highly regulated process involving careful segregation, secure collection by licensed contractors, and destruction primarily through high-temperature incineration at specialised facilities. Hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies must follow strict guidelines set by agencies like the Environment Agency, ensuring safe handling, detailed documentation, and environmental protection throughout the disposal process.
How are needles and syringes disposed of?
In the UK, needles and syringes are disposed of in puncture-proof, sealed sharps containers that are typically yellow or orange in color, which are collected by licensed medical waste disposal contractors. Healthcare facilities and patients using medical sharps are required to use these specialised containers to prevent injury and contamination, with the waste then being safely incinerated at high temperatures to destroy potential biohazards.
What is the difference between pharmaceutical waste and clinical waste?
Pharmaceutical waste is described as unused, expired, or contaminated medications and drugs including both prescription and over-the-counter medicines. Clinical waste, however, is a broader category that includes potentially infectious or hazardous materials generated in healthcare settings such as surgical gloves, bandages and swabs.
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