Management of Discarded Pharmaceuticals

Abstract

Federal regulations addressing pharmaceutical disposal only exist for those designated as controlled substances by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). For all others, the generator must determine the best method of disposal to comply with existing environmental regulations. Some choose professional hazardous waste disposal companies, others treat them as medical waste, and still others use normal solid waste disposal. The variety of disposal methods is due not only to the differing characteristics of pharmaceuticals, but also to generator confusion regarding disposal of pharmaceuticals. With medications distributed under trade names, generators often lack the knowledge necessary to identify the proper disposal method for discarded pharmaceuticals. The current methods used for managing discarded pharmaceuticals are reviewed, including a discussion of pertinent federal regulatory requirements and current state government practices.