Search

New EPA Pharmaceutical Hazardous Waste Rules Coming Soon

Posted on 11/12/2018 by Roger Marks

US EPA is preparing to finalize regulations that could have a major impact on the way healthcare facilities and others manage pharmaceutical hazardous wastes. 
 
As proposed, EPA’s new pharmaceutical hazardous waste regulations will revise the rules for accumulating, counting, labeling, shipping, and disposing of these hazardous wastes. In other words, healthcare facilities should expect major changes to the way they manage pharmaceutical hazardous waste on site.

Never miss an update! Subscribe to Lion News and get a free weekly digest of the latest news and insights for EHS professionals, hazmat shippers, and emergency responders. 
 
Revisions in the proposed rule will: 
 
  • Prohibit drain disposal of pharmaceutical hazardous wastes.
  • Split pharmaceutical hazardous wastes into “creditable” and “non-creditable” categories, subject to different management and shipping requirements.
  • Establish hazardous waste management training requirements for personnel.
  • Create new rules and time limits for on-site accumulation/storage.
  • Exclude pharmaceutical hazardous wastes from counting toward generator status.
  • Create new labeling rules for pharmaceutical hazardous wastes.
  • Establish recordkeeping and release response requirements.
  • Establish a new facility category under RCRA: “Pharmaceutical Reverse Distributors.

Hazardous Waste Management Challenges for Healthcare Providers

 Healthcare facilities face three major challenges when it comes to hazardous waste compliance:
 
  1. Most healthcare professionals have their hands full with patient care, and most have little to no training or background in environmental compliance.
  2. Healthcare facilities may manage thousands of regulated pharmaceutical products that are each subject to specific management and disposal standards.
  3. Some pharmaceutical hazardous wastes are even regulated as “acute” hazardous wastes, meaning they are more dangerous and regulated more stringently.

Customer_At_Pharmacy_310751366.jpg

Given those challenges, facilities need an effective hazardous waste management training plan in place to ensure compliance. Failure to comply with EPA’s hazardous waste regulations can result in rejected or returned pharmaceutical shipments, liability for environmental damage, and civil penalties under EPA’s RCRA program (now more than $72,000 per day, per violation).
 

Learn more about EPA’s proposed rules for pharmaceutical hazardous waste at the links below: 

New Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals (09/2015)
What’s in the Newly Proposed Subpart P for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals (09/2015) 
 
Lion News will post an update when the Final Rule hits the Federal RegisterSUBSCRIBE NOW and ensure you get the latest hazardous waste management news delivered directly to your inbox, every Tuesday morning! 
 

Tags: hazardous, management, new, P, pharmaceutical, RCRA, rules, subpart, waste

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

Lion's training was by far the best online RCRA training I've ever taken. It was challenging and the layout was great!

Paul Harbison

Hazardous Waste Professional

The instructor was energetic and made learning fun compared to dry instructors from other training providers.

Andy D’Amato

International Trade Compliance Manager

Very well structured, comprehensive, and comparable to live training seminars I've participated in previously. I will recommend the online course to other colleagues with training requirement needs.

Neil Luciano

EHS Manager

Amazing instructor; real-life examples. Lion training gets better every year!

Frank Papandrea

Environmental Manager

Lion provided an excellent introduction to environmental regulations, making the transition to a new career as an EHS specialist less daunting of a task. Drinking from a fire hose when the flow of water is lessened, is much more enjoyable!

Stephanie Weathers

SHE Specialist

The exercises in the DOT hazardous materials management course are especially helpful in evaluating your understanding of course information.

Morgan Bliss

Principal Industrial Hygienist

This course went above my expectations from the moment I walked in the door. The instructor led us through two days packed with useful compliance information.

Rachel Stewart

Environmental Manager

Excellent job. Made what is very dry material interesting. Thoroughly explained all topics in easy-to-understand terms.

David Hertvik

Vice President

The course is well thought out and organized in a way that leads to a clearer understanding of the total training.

David Baily

Hazmat Shipping Professional

As always, Lion never disappoints

Paul Resley

Environmental Coordinator

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

Some limited quantity reliefs are reserved for specific modes of transport. Use this guide to identify which reliefs you can capitalize on, and which do not apply to your operations.

Latest Whitepaper

By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.