A Practical Guide: Matching Waste Type to Disposal Method

Which method is appropriate for disposing empty pharmaceutical containers after labels are removed?

• Return to manufacturer for recovery

• Medium temperature incineration

• Rinse with water and dispose

• Send to effluent treatment plant

Powders, tablets, and capsules should primarily be handled by which disposal step?

• Pour into sewer directly

• Recycle with paper waste

• Dissolve in water or solvent

• Low temperature incineration

Liquid oral preparations from a pharmacy are best managed by which action?

• Pour into effluent treatment

• Recycle via cardboard stream

• Encapsulate before landfill

• Return to manufacturer

Strips or blister packs require which two-part procedure for compliant disposal?

• Rinse and landfill

• Recover tablets then destroy packaging

• Sewer discharge after dilution

• Medium temperature incineration only

Printed labels, cartons, and foils from pharmaceutical packaging are best disposed using which method?

• Recycle via paper stream

• Send to effluent plant

• Destroy by incineration

• Dissolve in solvent

For general solids categorized by material, the recommended endpoint is which facility?

• Municipal landfill site

• High temperature incinerator

• Manufacturer return program

• Effluent treatment plant

Liquids classified by material category should be directed to which system?

• Landfill cell

• Encapsulation drums

• Recycling compactor

• Sewer network

Sharps and injectable pharmaceutical waste should be treated using which protocol?

• Sewer discharge

• Return to pharmacy shelves

• Medium and high temperature incineration

• Recycle with metals

Anti-infective or antineoplastic drugs require which preferred disposition?

• Dissolve and sewer discharge

• Return to manufacturer or incineration

• Low temperature incineration only

• Recycle with paper and cardboard

Paper and cardboard packaging from pharmaceuticals typically meet which end-of-life criteria?

• Sewer after shredding

• Recycle or landfill

• Encapsulation or incineration

• Effluent treatment plant