Medical and Pharmacy Waste

Medical Waste Management

In accordance with EHS Policy 08.01.16 Medical Waste Guidelines for Containers, Segregation and Disposal, proper medical waste management is essential to ensure occupational safety and environmental compliance.

• Always separate at the point of origin into appropriate labeled containers.
• Package and contain medical waste in a manner that prevents occupational exposure and Environmental release.
• Solidify bulk fluids prior to disposal in containers.
• Store wastes in secure locations or in areas that are always highly visible to staff.

Pharmacy Waste Management

The 07.72 Disposal of Pharmaceuticals policy identifies the disposal hierarchy for waste pharmaceutical container selection and final waste disposal practices.  Processes vary by campus hospitals and offsite clinics. All healthcare providers responsible for the handling, storage, and administration of drugs are responsible for understanding the appropriate method of disposal.

Disposal practices are separated by drug type to include:

• Controlled Substances
• Pharmaceuticals sharps
• Hazardous pharmaceuticals
• Non-hazardous pharmaceuticals
• Chemotherapy drugs
• Trace chemotherapy wastes

Waste collection is primary managed by Environmental Services through the medical waste collection process; however, hazardous pharmaceuticals require EHS collection.