Kansas Medical Waste Regulations

The state of Kansas is home to approximately three million residents with more than 50 hospitals and surgical centers to serve the cities and towns. Every facility in each city and county is required to follow medical waste regulations including proper pharmaceutical waste disposal and documentation with cradle-to-grave traceability. Who …

Corporate Wellness Plans Should include At-Home Drug Disposal

Preventing drug use and misuse does not have to stop at the workplace, employers are realizing the benefits of helping workers to dispose of pharmaceuticals at home. How Your Wellness Plan Benefits with At-Home Drug Disposal Human Resource departments in corporations across the country are well aware of the potential …

New Pharmaceutical Waste Regulations in Effect in Washington State

New requirements for managing dangerous pharmaceutical waste went into effect on October 31, 2020, in the state of Washington under legislation WAC-173-303-555. The Department of Ecology in the state of Washington is the agency in charge of protecting the environment in the state and offers assistance to healthcare facilities to …

The Impact of Improper Drug Disposal

The hazards of improper drug disposal are catastrophic, impacting the environment, animal health and human health through poisonings and drug abuse.  When facilities or consumers dispose of medications improperly either by throwing in the trash or flushing down the drain, the negative impacts are numerous and costly.  Improper drug disposal …

Long Term Care Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal Options

Long Term Care Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal Options February 5, 2024 | Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal Long-term care facilities provide crucial care to a range of populations who are unable to live independently. Long-term care facilities may provide physical and medical care, often over periods of months to years. This care typically …

Pharmaceutical Management At Healthcare Facilities

Pharmaceuticals make their way through the supply chain, landing at healthcare facilities as the last stop.  Medications are necessary to improve quality of life for  people with many conditions. Managing the supply chain of pharmaceuticals at the facility level is critical to the quality of health care that patients receive. …

Hazardous Drug Handling Protocol from USP <800>

The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) is a private, non-profit, organization although many standards issued by the USP are enforced at many regulatory agencies including the Joint Commission and individual state’s Boards of Pharmacy. The latest chapter, USP General Chapter <800>, provides standards for the safe handling of hazardous drugs in …

Getting Compliant with DEA Drug Disposal Regulations

The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) issues regulations regarding the handling and disposing of controlled substances to ensure safety to the environment and to prevent these types of drugs from falling into the wrong hands.  Healthcare facilities that must dispose of pharmaceuticals and controlled substances can face significant fines for improper …

Do Vet Clinics Have The Same Medical Waste Regulations?

Managing pharmaceutical waste is critical in any healthcare setting, including in veterinary clinics or animal hospitals.  Veterinary services are similar to human healthcare clinics which generate non-hazardous and hazardous medication waste. Biomass and pharmaceutical materials and chemicals must be segregated and disposed of properly according to all federal regulations for …

Pharma Waste Disposal: What Are the Most Important Considerations?

Pharmaceutical waste is any expired prescriptions, unused or surplus medications that can no longer be used, are no longer needed, or cannot be sold or prescribed. Pharmaceutical waste must be classified and segregated as either hazardous or non-hazardous waste which is dependent upon the characteristics of the pharmaceuticals and the …

Are Pharmaceutical Research Facilities Bound by DEA Regulations

Medical research laboratories often use controlled substances and many different pharmaceuticals during the course of research.  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regulate safe and compliant medication waste.  The DEA has issued Code of Federal Regulations DEA 21 CFR related to compliance of medication disposal …

Waste Segregation is Key to a Successful Drug Disposal Program

Segregating pharmaceutical waste in hospitals or healthcare clinics at the source is part of a good plan for safe drug disposal that meets federal regulations.  The Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA, and the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, provide federal regulations regarding the safe and compliant handling and disposal of pharmaceutical waste. …

Know What’s Considered Regulated and Non-Regulated

All hazardous pharmaceutical waste and controlled substances must be disposed of properly according to all regulations set forth by federal regulating agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA, and the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA.  Assuming that non-regulated pharmaceutical waste is considered non-hazardous is not completely accurate as almost any type …

21 CFR: If It’s not Documented It Didn’t Happen

Maintaining a pharmaceutical waste disposal program that meets federal regulations must comply with DEA Code of Federal Regulations, CFR, 21, 40 and 42.  These regulations pertain to the methods of drug waste disposal deemed safe and compliant by the Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA.  Every facility, DEA registrant, distributor or reverse …

Do you Know What It Takes to Be DEA Compliant?

  Maintaining a drug disposal system that is compliant to all DEA regulations is critical for facilities to prevent environmental contamination and drug diversion.  All too frequently, healthcare workers are not properly trained on drug disposal practices that meet regulatory requirements and in some cases are even instructed to dispose …

Navigating the Dental Industries Role in the Ongoing Opioid Challenge

Navigating the Dental Industries Role in the Ongoing Opioid Challenge March 04, 2024 | Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal The Crucial Role of Dentists in the Opioid Epidemic Dentists play a pivotal role in the opioid epidemic, serving as major prescribers of pain medications for various dental and oral surgical procedures. The …

Wastewater-Based Epidemiology (WBE) Measures Opioid Use in Communities

Opioid use is an epidemic in United States and researchers are coming up with new ways to evaluate opioid use in communities.  A study published in the National Institutes of Health used robotic technology to measure levels of opioid metabolites in various manholes at 10 different sites in North Carolina. …

EPA Subpart P Adoption Dates

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) outlines in the Code of Federal Regulations, CFR 40, standards such as Part 266 regarding the Management of Specific Types of Hazardous Waste Management Facilities with Subpart P relating specifically to Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals.  The final rule titled the Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals …

Just How Big Is the Prescription Drug Water Contamination Problem?

Just How Big is the Prescription Drug Water Contamination Problem? April 04, 2024 | Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal Prescription drugs play a vital role in modern healthcare, providing relief and treatment for various medical conditions. However, the improper disposal of these medications poses a significant threat to the environment and public …

Challenges to Drug Management and Disposal in Prisons

Managing medications in jails and correctional facilities is a challenging task for nurses and medical staff.  Add to that the many prescriptions that are given to inmates to self-administer as Keep-on-Person (KOP) medications and correctional nurses face many additional challenges. KOP Medications and Tips for Correctional Facility Nurses Administering medications …

Segregating Pharmaceutical Waste In Long Term Care Facilities

Long-term care facilities can include a skilled nursing facility, an assisted living facility, a rehabilitation center, senior living, or hospice care.  These types of facilities can face challenges with properly segregating pharmaceutical waste for compliant medication waste disposal.  Long-term care facilities generate the same types of medical waste as hospitals …

FDIC International

FDIC International offers 35,000+ Fire & Rescue professionals from 65+ countries around the world, quality world-class instructors, classrooms, workshops, H.O.T. evolutions and the most innovative products and services available to the industry displayed by over 800 exhibiting companies. The FDIC Experience is more than your traditional trade show it’s about …

How Can I Order the Rx Destroyer System for My Facility?

Rx Destroyer™ is the safe and easy to use pharmaceutical waste disposal system that meets the needs of many industries where prescription medications are used.  No longer can facilities flush most medications down the drain as a means to dispose of expired or unused prescriptions. Facilities that dispose of pharmaceuticals …

Improper Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal Will Cost You

Improperly disposing of pharmaceuticals creates potentially dangerous consequences with one of the greatest threats causing danger to humans and animals. Improper pharmaceutical waste disposal also causes staggering consequences to the environment. Improper handling, storage or disposal of pharmaceutical waste creates hazards within the workplace as well as safety hazards to …

OSHA Guidelines for Medical Waste

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) does not regulate the final disposal of medical waste, although the Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens Standard created in 1991 has specific requirements regarding specific types of waste.  The purpose of the standard is to protect the more than 5.6 million healthcare workers …

Which Form Documents the Destruction of Controlled Substances

Which Form Documents the Destruction of Controlled Substances? Many federal and state rules apply to the administration, management, storage, and destruction of controlled substances. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), outlines the regulations that govern disposal of controlled substances by ultimate users and registrants in DEA 21 CFR, Code of Federal …

Challenges to Cost-Effective Medication Management in Correctional Facilities

Administering medication in any clinical setting comes with several challenges and risks such as opportunities for error, drug diversion and cost constraints.  Managing medication in a jail or prison is even more challenging for nurses and medical staff.  Medication management in correctional facilities requires daily administration of drugs to thousands …

Diversion of Controlled Drugs from Hospitals

The diversion of controlled drugs from hospitals has been a rising problem across the United States and Canada with hospitals feeling pressure to implement safeguards that prevent drug diversion. According to the International Narcotics Control Board, the United States and Canada are the two highest consumers per capita of opioids …

Veterinary Handling, Storage and Disposal of Controlled Substances

Prescription medications including controlled substances can help people and animals when they are used correctly. These same medications can be extremely dangerous to humans and animals if they are handled, stored, or disposed of improperly. Veterinary practices as well as animal hospitals, zoos and animal clinics must follow strict policies …

Why Is Non-Retrievable Waste Disposal of Controlled Substances Important?

Secure Disposal of Controlled Substances Is Critical  The safe and secure disposal of expired medications is a key strategy to prevent drug diversion, accidental ingestion, and pollution. Rendering controlled substances non-retrievable provides for a safe and secure disposal of controlled substances and is a compliant method of destruction in accordance …

How Should Dental Offices Dispose of Expired Controlled Substances?

Disposal of pharmaceutical waste in dental offices is regulated as medical waste which includes emergency drugs, patient prescriptions, partially used and expired over-the-counter medications.  Specific requirements vary in different states, although dental practices in California must abide by some of the strictest medical waste regulations which include the following record-keeping, …

Procedures for the Destruction of Non-Controlled Substances

Disposing of pharmaceutical waste properly is important to protect the environment and to prevent expired medications from falling into the wrong hands. Facilities that dispense medications must have a comprehensive medication disposal handling, storage and disposal policy that is clearly communicated to all personnel. Easy to use drug disposal products …

An Overview of Waste Management in the Pharmaceutical Industry

Managing pharmaceutical waste is an important part of many industries that use medications such as hospitals, veterinary clinics, correctional facilities, long-term care facilities, various healthcare clinics, pharmaceutical manufacturers, pharmacies, and more. Pharmaceutical waste includes medications that are no longer needed, wanted or are expired and must be disposed of.   Risks …

Challenges of Disposing of Hazardous Pharmaceutical Waste

  Pharmaceuticals improve quality of life and save the lives of millions of people every year, unfortunately this does not come without a cost. How to properly dispose of different types of pharmaceutical waste has been a problem for many years. Some of the biggest offenders that cause the most …

What Are the Rules for Disposal of Controlled Substances in Hospice?

The rules for disposing of controlled substances have been evolving over the last couple of decades as several pieces of legislation attempt to clarify regulations,  improve safety and prevent drug diversion. Drug diversion occurs when prescriptions are misused by someone for whom they were not intended. Drug diversion is a …

Controlled Substance Disposal in Hospitals a Growing Problem

  Millions of Americans receive prescription opioid painkillers to treat chronic pain and other medical conditions. The abuse of prescription drugs and controlled substances in particular have risen to epidemic proportions in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 232,000 people have died …

Waste Management in the Pharmaceutical Industry

Managing pharmaceutical waste is an integral component of the pharmaceutical industry, whether referring to pharmaceutical manufacturing companies, pharmacies, or healthcare facilities where physicians manage pharmaceuticals. Pharmaceutical waste comes in many different forms including chemicals from manufacturing, expired products such as pills, strips, patches and lozenges and liquid medications. Even individual …

Why Is Proper Pharmaceutical Waste Management so Important?

Pharmaceuticals are a critical element in treating patients for medical conditions in various healthcare settings such as hospitals, long-term care facilities and other medical establishments. Pharmaceuticals are used in other industries as well such as veterinary clinics and oral health care. The safe handling, management and disposal of pharmaceuticals should …

What Are the Effects of Pharmaceutical Waste on the Environment?

What Are the Effects of Pharmaceutical Waste on the Environment? July 10, 2023 | Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal Pharmaceutical Waste and the Impacts on the Environment Pharmaceutical waste can have various negative effects on ecosystems when it is not properly managed. The effects of pharmaceutical waste on the environment have been …

Drug Diversion Training and Best Practice Prescribing of Controlled Substances

Drug diversion in healthcare is a huge problem in the United States with an estimated one in 10 healthcare workers addicted to or abusing drugs. Drug diversion is a threat to the safety of patients, for hospital staff and facilities facing fines and serious penalties. A comprehensive Controlled Substances Diversion …

Registrant Disclosure of Loss Diversion or Destruction of Controlled Substances

What should a facility do when they discover controlled substances are lost or missing? Drug diversion in healthcare is a serious problem contributing to the opioid epidemic in the United States. Is critical that all facilities follow meticulous procedures to account for all medications, especially controlled substances. Registrants who notice …

Nursing Home Witness Signing for Destruction of Controlled Substances

Nursing homes, long-term care facilities and hospitals are the largest generators of pharmaceutical waste in the United States, generating more than 84,000 tons of medication waste each year, according to an article in Patient Safety and Quality Healthcare. Disposing of pharmaceutical waste and nursing homes can be complex and confusing …

Public Health Centers in Need of Pharmaceutical Disposal Methods

Public health facilities like homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, and crisis facilities are faced with particular challenges regarding the management and proper disposal of unused and expired pharmaceuticals. Many people that come to these public health centers are in need of healthcare and are currently taking or should be taking …

21 CFR 1308 – Drug Diversion & The DEA

Managing pharmaceutical waste in health care facilities and any organization which manages medications such as correctional facilities, must carefully regulate the control and disposal of pharmaceutical waste.  Facilities must meet updated Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA, regulations which amend the Controlled Substances Act, as well as Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, requirements …