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  Management Overview

Most waste pharmaceuticals designate as either federal [Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)] hazardous waste [Chapter 173-303-080, 173-303-090 WAC] or Washington state-only dangerous waste [Chapter 173-303-100 WAC].  

Below is a summary of the management options available to you.  This does not include all applicable dangerous waste requirements.  Refer to the Rules, Policy and Guides page for more details.

1. Send controlled substances and viable pharmaceuticals to a reverse distributor or manufacturer.
2. Chose a Management Option below for remaining pharmaceutical wastes:

Option 1:

• Assume all pharmaceutical waste is RCRA hazardous waste
• Send off all to RCRA permitted facility

Option 2:

• Designate which pharmaceutical waste is RCRA hazardous waste
  • Send to RCRA-permitted facility
• Assume remainder is State-only dangerous waste
  • Send to incinerator under the Conditional Exclusion

Option 3:

• Designate which pharmaceutical waste is RCRA waste
  • Send to RCRA-permitted facility
• Designate remainder to determine if it is State-only dangerous waste
  • If State-only – sent to incinerator under the Conditional Exclusion
  • No, not State-only – contact local health district for solid waste disposal options

For more information, please refer to the following documents:

• Pharmaceutical Waste Management Flowchart
• Pharmaceutical Waste Designation Flowchart
• Pub #07-04-024: Interim Enforcement Policy – Pharmaceutical Waste
• Pub #07-04-025: Guide for Dangerous Pharmaceutical Waste Generators in Washington State