Waste management of pharmaceutical can be costly if not done carefully. When chemicals seep into waterways, landfills, and other places they should not be, the environment, wildlife and you are at risk of being harmed. For this reason, regulatory agencies such as the EPA, State Environmental Agencies, OSHA, and the DOT are willing to hand out heavy fines to facilities and individuals that don’t properly handle and dispose of pharmaceutical waste.

Incorrect Segregation

The improper segregation of pharmaceutical waste can cause countless issues. Separation of the various waste streams needs to be done meticulously. Color coding is a helpful way to ensure proper labeling. Color coding can be used for both management and storage of pharmaceuticals, but the key is to come up with a proper coding plan and to stick with it.

Incorrect Disposal

Incorrect disposal can cause the costliest problems. Wrongly disposing hazardous wastes, whether done on accident or on purpose, exposes your facility to fines from the EPA and state agencies.. The reason being that this sort of waste in our sewers will cause great environmental problems that affect wildlife and people. Chemicals that are dumped will find their way into waterways and contaminate them. Drinking water is polluted and aquatic life are in danger when this happens. Aquatic life has been shown to become sterile from contaminated waterways, not only damaging their populations but their whole ecosystems.

Determine Your Generator Status

Depending on the amount and type, pharmaceutical waste can only be stored for so long. The quantity of waste plays one of the largest roles in your storage techniques. How much waste your facility produces will place your facility into a certain classification. Under each classification there are certain guidelines for how much waste you can produce and for how long you can store it. Federally speaking, the amount of waste your facility generates will classify you as either a Very Small Quantity Generator (VSQG), a Small Quantity Generator (SQG), or a Large Quantity Generator (LQG). Additionally, individual states may incorporate stricter regulations. Follow the applicable regulations for your facility’s classification to avoid any problems.

Avoid These Mistakes

Improper disposal of waste harms the environment, wildlife and our health. It is important to do your due diligence and prevent the large problems that can come from improper disposal. Also, nobody wants to pay fines or spend time in jail so avoid these costly waste mistakes to keep your facility a better place, our environment clean, and people healthy.