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Pharmaceutical Waste Management for Businesses and Homeowners

Pharmaceutical Waste Management at Businesses

Florida has adopted by reference EPA’s Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals and Amendment to the P075 Listing for Nicotine 40 CFR 266 Subpart P which became effective in Florida on August 21, 2019.

Under the new rule:

For more information, please view Rule 62-730.181 F.A.C.

Pharmaceutical waste generated by various types of medical facilities can be a difficult waste stream to manage. Not only does your facility need to comply with all applicable hazardous and solid waste regulations, but they must also comply with any overlapping regulations from:

DEA’s disposal regulations include how your facility can become an "authorized collector."

Guidance on this website should help your facility stay in compliance with Florida environmental regulations.

Additional Guidance

National Pharmwaste Listserv 

Proper disposal of pharmaceutical waste is an emerging issue nationally as low levels of various pharmaceutical compounds have been found in waterways across the country. This online group provides a national dialogue to organize, discuss, and track ideas, projects, grants, and other issues. Participants are primarily from various government agencies, but others are welcome to join.

Join the Listserv or read the Listserv Archives.

 

Pharmaceutical Waste Management for in the Home

Do not flush your medicines down the toilet or down the drain. Use a disposal site or collection event when available, or dispose of old medications as recommended in the EPA Fact Sheet.

Disposal Sites Or Collection Events

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take my unwanted medicine to my pharmacy?

New federal regulations allow pharmacies to have collection programs. You should check with your pharmacy to see if it is available. If not, consider asking them to start a collection program.

Can I take my unwanted medicine to a hospital?

New federal regulations allow hospitals to have collection programs. You should check with your hospital to see if it is available. If not, consider asking them to start a collection program.

Can I take my unwanted medicine to my doctor?

In most cases, your doctor will not be able to take them back. If the doctor is located in a hospital with a collection program, he will be able to direct you to the collection container.

Can I donate my unwanted medicine?

In most cases, no.

Can I put my unwanted medicine in my SHARPS container?

No, medicine should not be disposed of in your sharps container. For information on sharps disposal: Needle Collection Programs

Mail-Back Programs Through Retailers and Disposal Products

Some retailers sell mail-back products for unwanted medicines. These are suitable for household use as long as you follow package directions. There are also products available to mix with medications so they can be disposed of in the trash. They are also designed for use by homeowners.

None of these products are suitable for the disposal of hazardous waste pharmaceuticals from a business like a medical facility or pharmacy. DEP does not regulate any of these products.

Can't find a disposal site or drop-off event?

If you cannot find a disposal site or drop-off event, place the medications in the household trash after taking precautions to prevent accidental ingestion by humans or animals.

To protect the environment, please use these guidelines instead of flushing medications:

  • Keep it in the original container. This will help identify the contents if they are accidentally ingested.
  • Mark out your name & prescription number for safety.
  • For pills: add some water or soda to start dissolving them
  • For liquids: add something inedible like cat litter or dirt
  • Close the lid and secure it with duct or packing tape
  • Place the bottle(s) inside an opaque (non-see-through) container like a detergent container.
  • Tape that container closed.
  • Hide the container in the trash. Do not put it in the recycle bin.

DO NOT give drugs to anyone else

DO NOT flush drugs down the toilet.

DO NOT put drugs in the trash without disguising them – humans may find them and misuse them.

Other Links

Contact:

If you would like to discuss pharmaceutical waste management, contact the Waste Compliance Section at 850-245-8707.

Return to the Hazardous Waste Management Main Page.

Last Modified:
March 18, 2024 - 2:40pm

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