Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal in LA
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Give Us a Call (866) 305-9001
Emergency Response Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal in LA is is your go-to resource for safe and reliable Pharmaceutical Waste disposal. With our wide selection of services, you can be sure that your sharps disposal needs are taken care of. We have the experience and expertise to get the job done right, providing you with a safe disposal solution. Contact us today and let us help you take care of your sharps disposal needs.
Hospitals, medical clinics, doctors, dentists, veterinarians, and other health care facilities generate several types of wastes. These include hazardous waste identified under the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), non-RCRA hazardous waste, and medical waste. When SB 1966 became effective in 1997, pharmaceutical wastes classified as non-RCRA (California only) hazardous waste were included under the definition of Medical Waste. These wastes must be handled and disposed of as medical waste according to the requirements of the California Medical Waste Management Act (MWMA), Sections 117690 (3), 117747, and 118222 (b), California Health and Safety Code.
If a pharmaceutical waste is a medical waste, it must be managed according to MWMA requirements. These requirements include the waste being labeled with the words “Incineration Only” and disposed of within one year on a waste tracking document.
The MWMA section 117690 (a), (b)(3) defines pharmaceutical waste as a type of medical waste. It further indicates that it is a pharmaceutical, including chemotherapy waste that is a waste (as defined in HSC 25124). A pharmaceutical waste does not include pharmaceuticals being sent out to a reverse distributor.
Pharmaceutical Waste Container (typically white and blue in color) offers a reliable and safe solution for disposing of your Non-rcra pharmaceutical waste. Made from a durable, puncture-resistant plastic, this UN3291 container is designed to contain and store a wide variety of pharmaceutical waste products including those that still have the needle attached. It is easy to use and comes with an airtight lid to ensure the safe disposal of hazardous materials. The Pharmaceutical Waste Container is perfect for medical clinics, pharmacies, and other healthcare facilities. It is available in a variety of sizes to suit your specific needs.
Pro Tip: Pharmaceutical waste container are “single use” containers and are incinerated with its contents as a proper method of disposal.
Typical pharmaceutical waste containers are color coded white and blue and come in the following sizes:
5 Quart
2 Gallon
8 Gallon
12 Gallon
18 Gallon
Proper placement of biohazard containers is crucial to ensure safety and compliance with health regulations. Biohazard containers should be strategically located in areas where biohazardous waste is frequently generated, such as patient rooms, operating rooms, laboratories, and other medical or research facilities. They must be easily accessible to healthcare professionals, allowing for quick and safe disposal of contaminated materials. According to OSHA guidelines, containers should be placed as close as possible to the point of use and at a height that minimizes the risk of needlestick injuries. This careful positioning helps maintain a clean and hazard-free environment, protecting both staff and patients.
Ideal Locations for Biohazard Containers:
Patient Rooms: Near bedsides to allow immediate disposal of used gloves, dressings, and other contaminated items.
Operating Rooms: Close to surgical sites to dispose of sharps and other surgical waste efficiently.
Laboratories: At workstations where biological materials and cultures are handled.
Nurses’ Stations: Easily accessible for disposing of biohazard waste generated during routine care activities.
Procedure Rooms: Near examination tables for the disposal of medical waste during procedures.
Common Areas: Strategically placed in high-traffic areas to ensure quick and safe disposal of biohazardous materials.
Pharmaceutical waste containers are reserved for those items that are contain any prescription or over-the-counter human or veterinary drug. Proper drug handling and training can help ensure staff are fully aware of what can and cannot be disposed of in a sharps container.
Things that should not be thrown in a pharmaceutical waste container include:
RCRA Hazardous Pharmaceutical waste is waste that exhibits a characteristic such as (ignitability, corrosivity, ractivity, or toxicity).
Untreated controlled substances
Tape, paper, bandages/gauze, exam gloves, alcohol preps (These items go into a biohazard waste container)
Aerosols or inhalers (These items are typically hazardous or “RCRA” Waste and go into a hazardous waste container
Garbage or liquids of any kind
Batteries of any type
Hazardous, chemical, radioactive or red bag waste (non-sharps regulated medical waste)
