Pharmaceutical Waste Management in Healthcare

Recent studies have found evidence of pharmaceuticals in 80% of streams of sampled. A similar study in Washington State found a similar rate of pharmaceuticals in surface water. Researchers have observed effects on wildlife, including the feminization of fish that are likely linked to hormones and medicines in the water.

While many pharmaceuticals enter the environment through excretion, the direct disposal of unwanted pharmaceuticals to the sewer and landfill has an impact on the environment. Wastewater treatment facilities do not have the technology to remove pharmaceuticals. Therefore, incineration is the best current disposal route for pharmaceutical waste.

The Washington State Department of Ecology hosted a statewide teleconference on June 21, 2007 regarding the proper management of pharmaceutical waste in healthcare settings. Approximately 120 participants attended six locations around the state.

Managing pharmaceutical waste in compliance with Ecology's Dangerous Waste Regulations and the requirements of other agencies can be difficult. Using the sewer, regulated medical waste containers, or landfill to dispose of pharmaceutical waste fails to meet regulatory requirements and contributes to the contamination of groundwater, surface water, and drinking water.

Washington State hospitals face many challenges in properly managing pharmaceutical waste. This was discovered during technical assistance visits to over half the state’s hospitals by the Washington Department of Ecology.

Many unwanted pharmaceuticals designate as dangerous waste in Washington State and hospitals must be prepared to be in compliance with these regulations. Hospitals play an important role in environmental protection and preventing the release of pharmaceuticals to the environment.

Ecology has developed an Interim Enforcement Policy for Pharmaceutical Waste Management in Healthcare to help hospitals and retail pharmacies:

o Protect human health and the environment.

o Simply pharmaceutical waste management.

o Maintain compliance with environmental regulations.

Once the Draft Interim Enforcement Policy is finalized later this summer it will be posted on this website along with information fact sheets to assist with implementation.

If you would like to view the presentations from the seminar please click on the appropriate link below. (Click on underlined title of presentation to view)

o Ecology’s Draft Interim Enforcement Policy for Pharmaceutical Waste

Lori Rodriguez and Leatta Dahlhoff, Department of Ecology

o Case Study: Pharmaceutical Waste Management

Steve Waderich, Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis

o Reverse Distribution

Mark Harvey, EXP Pharmaceutical Services Corp.

o Nurses & Training

Karen Bowman, Washington State Nurses Association