Management of Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals
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New Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals
EPA finalized regulations for the management of hazardous waste pharmaceuticals by healthcare facilities and reverse distributors in a rule published in the Federal Register on February 22, 2019. Learn more about the final rule.
Resources for Managing Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals
Guidance Documents
- A 10-Step Blueprint for Managing Pharmaceutical Waste in U.S. Healthcare Facilities; 2022 Edition (pdf) (9.5 MB).
- Pretreatment Program Factsheet on Hazardous Waste Reporting Requirements for Industrial Users under 40 CFR 403.12(p)&(j) (pdf) (666 KB).
- How to Safely Dispose of E-Cigarettes: Information for Schools and Small Businesses.
Guidance Memos and Letters
- Applicability of 40 CFR Part 266 Subpart P to Intermediate Care Facilities (pdf) (8 pp, 1.29 MB).
- Chloral hydrate can be U034 (pdf) (11 pp, 56 K).
- Containers that Once Held P-listed Pharmaceutical Waste (pdf) (6 pp, 1.1 MB).
- Cyclophosphamide monohydrate can be U058 (pdf) (2 pp, 32 K).
- EPA's regulations on reverse distribution and policy on reverse logistics.
- Manifesting Non-Creditable Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals - New Four Character Code (pdf) (2 pp, 2.09 MB).
- Medicinal nitroglycerine that does not exhibit the reactivity characteristic (D003) is not P081 (pdf) (2 pp, 19 K).
- Nicotine as the sole active ingredient of E-liquids (pdf) (4 pp, 698 K).
- Nicotine-containing products that are legitimately recycled are not solid waste (pdf) (3 pp, 586 K).
- Scope of Hazardous Waste Listing P042 (Epinephrine) (pdf) (8 pp, 1.2 MB).
- Scope of Hazardous Waste Listing P046 (Phentermine) (pdf) (2 pp, 211 K).
Healthcare Environmental Resource Center
Household Pharmaceutical Disposal
- How to Dispose of Medicines Properly (pdf) (2 pp, 194 K).
- Information on Pharmaceutical Collection and Disposal.
- EPA's Recommendation for Incinerating Pharmaceuticals from Take-Back Events (pdf) (9 pp, 1.5 MB).
- Management of Household Pharmaceuticals Collected by Law Enforcement During Take-Back Events and Programs.
- Podcast about the proper disposal of e-cigarettes from households.
- How to Dispose of Vape Pens and Electronic Cigarettes for Individuals.