Learning how to deal with pharmaceutical waste is very important especially if you work in a medical environment as it can lead to very dangerous consequences.
Learning about this must be prioritised by employers so that those under their care know exactly what to do if they have to dispose of pharmaceutical waste the correct way.
In this article, we will explain to you what pharmaceutical waste is and how to dispose of it properly so that you will not face any more problems.
What Is Pharmaceutical Waste?
For those who are unfamiliar with this, pharmaceutical waste is basically medical products that can no longer be used or consumed.
This can be due to it being expired, damaged, contaminated or unused. As a result, it is no longer fit to be used by anyone and must be disposed of.
Here are some of the items that can be categorised under this category:
- Expired pharmaceutical stock
- Recalled pharmaceutical stock
- Cytostatic waste
- Cytotoxic waste
- PPE kits (gloves, masks)
- Lab items (bottles, needles)
All these items must be disposed of correctly because if they are used by someone unaware of their condition, it can lead to bad effects to the person and also to the company.
Contamination is a very serious aspect of items in the medical field as it can be very contagious. Due to that, it must be taken seriously to avoid any danger of that from happening.
3 Examples of Pharmaceutical Waste
In this section, we will explain more on the different types of pharmaceutical waste such as the items that we explained earlier on. We will categorise them so that they will be easier to differentiate.
1. Liquid Pharmaceutical Waste
The first type of pharmaceutical waste is liquid waste. This is usually created as pharmaceutical companies will usually have manufacturing facilities to do their operations.
Through these operations, liquid waste such as sludge and contaminated solvents will be created and need to be disposed of as it can pose dangers to the workers.
Pharmaceutical stock such as liquid medicines can also be categorised under this type of waste
2. Solid Pharmaceutical Waste
This type of pharmaceutical waste is much easier to recognise as they are items that are very commonly used in the medical field.
PPE kits as mentioned before such as gloves and masks fall under solid waste as well as other lab and medical items such as needles and syringes.
Contaminated items which have pharmaceutical residues such as bandages and iv bags must also be disposed of very carefully to avoid further risks.
3. Hazardous Waste in the Pharmaceutical Industry
Other than the two types mentioned above, there is also one more type of pharmaceutical waste which is hazardous waste.
This type of waste is very dangerous and must be disposed of as soon as possible.
Here are some of the categories of this type of waste:
- Wastes from electroplating and other metal finishing
- Spent wood preservers
- Wastewater treatment sludges from petroleum refineries
- Wastes containing dioxins
- Wastes from the production of chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons
The type of waste also has specific characteristics to make it easier to differentiate between the seriousness and danger that it poses.
It also serves as a guide on how to dispose of it. The 4 traits that are described for each type of waste are as follows:
The type of waste also has specific characteristics to make it easier to differentiate between the seriousness and danger that it poses.
It also serves as a guide on how to dispose of it. The 4 traits that are described for each type of waste are as follows:
- Corrosivity
- Ignitability
- Reactivity
- Toxicity
- How To Dispose?
Now that we know about the different types of waste that can be found, let’s find out how to dispose of it the correct way.
We will explain to you 3 ways that you can dispose of this waste based on its category.
How to Dispose Pharmaceutical Waste
1. Contaminated Products
For products such as gloves and masks, they are usually disposed of by a professional disposal company as they can be very contagious.
This is because some of the PPE products came in close contact with patients who may have diseases or viruses that can be infectious.
2. Pharmaceutical wastewater
Waste in liquid form which is generated due to the manufacturing process is a very delicate process as it cannot be cleaned the same way you throw out other forms of household liquids.
This is because it cannot go down the drain with the chemicals that it carries. Many companies are well trained to clean tanks and other equipment to make sure that no trace is left.
But if you are new to this and do not want to take any risks, you can contact a professional company to help you with this process.
3. Drug Waste
Prescription drug waste must also be disposed of correctly especially if they are in large amounts and in bulk. You must not throw it in the trash as it can get in the wrong hands.
Flushing it down the toilet is also an unsuitable way to dispose of the prescribed medicines and drugs.
To make sure that they are disposed of correctly, you are advised to hire a waste company to help you.
In conclusion, disposing of pharmaceutical waste is a very important aspect of the medical industry and must be taken more seriously.
Let Ideal Nauticare offer their expertise in managing these medical waste disposals for you.
They assist with the disposal of not only harmful drugs but also all types of medicine for a very affordable fee.
Aside from that, Ideal Nauticare is committed to keeping our seas safe for both humans and marine life.
As a result of this concern, professional bodies in their team would be in charge of medicine disposal. For you, they will prepare all the relevant documents so you won’t have to worry.
In conclusion, medical waste disposal is very crucial and it must especially be done so with care considering the environment and the people around.
You’re preoccupied with taking care of your patients and running your practise.
You’ll need a licenced waste disposal provider you can rely on to make disposal simple and straightforward.
We suggest you start with Ideal Nauticare, the expert on medical waste disposal AND medicines and medical equipment for various types of vessels!
Trust their extensive years of experience as the company is a one-stop centre for you to fulfill your medical maritime needs and requirements.
Ideal Nauticare strives to be the leader in the industry by delivering excellent customer service, exceptional value for money, and an unrivaled product range at a fair price.
Excellent customer service is the key to a successful business, which is why Ideal Nauticare works hard to provide the best service to customers.
In addition, passionate, highly driven, motivated team members are the core of the company’s business.
As needed, Ideal Nauticare can help you to safely dispose of dangerous drugs and all kinds of medicine at a reasonable price.
The disposal process of medicine should be conducted by professional bodies like Ideal Nauticare and all the necessary documents needed will be prepared by the company for you.
Furthermore, other than providing 24-hour free medical consultation service to clients, Ideal Nauticare also provides medical education and training upon request.
Clients can also seek manpower medic supply as Ideal Nauticare provides on-site medical staffing and assists maritime clients with relevant regulations.
Ideal Nauticare will provide the best service to suit your medical needs so contact them now to get high quality and reliable medical supplies AND help with medical waste disposal!
