A small description of what is pharmaceutical waste, hospital and otherwise, some regulations and some of the practices used to manage such waste. This presentation was done just under 10 minutes which was the time limit.

1. PharmaceuticalWaste
Management
By Imad Nmeir
Supervised by Doc. Rita Karam Mouawad
HOLY-SPIRIT UNIVERSITY OF KASLIK
Faculty of Science
Department of biochemistry

2. Table of content
Introduction
Types ofWaste: Non hazardous
Hazardous P-list
U-list
Chemotherapy agents
Understanding
waste
management
Waste generator
Waste
management
solution
Recycling and minimization
Sorting and handling
Collection and storage
Treatment and disposal

3. Introduction to waste management

4. Problematic:
Need to manage pharmaceutical
waste and minimize their effects
Effects on human
health
Environmental
pollution
Pharmaceutical
wastes
4

5. Types ofWaste

6. Non hazardous waste:
Open
packages
Empty or half empty
vials
Unused
medication
Outdated medication
Unclear effects
Disposal:
• Landfill
• Incineration
Preferably
in
regulated
places

7. Hazardous waste:
2 types of
Hazardous
waste
P-list U-list

8. P-list hazardous waste
Highly toxic compounds
LD 50=
• 50 mg/Kg
Disposal
• Incineration in regulated
facilities

9. U-list Hazardous waste
Criteria
Ignitability
Corrosiveness
Reactivity
Toxicity

10. Chemotherapy waste
Long history for
Chemotherapy
waste
Early use of Arsenic
and Mercury
Greater waste
management than
other
pharmaceutical
waste

11. Understanding Pharmaceutical waste

12. Why is Pharmaceutical waste so complex?
Medical
waste may
be
dangerous
to the
handler
after usage
Processing
waste is
tricky due to
versatility
and
diversity of
regulation
Types ofWastes
P-and U-list drugs
Chemotherapy
Endocrine
disruptors
Immunosuppressa
nt
Vitamins and
minerals
LD50 <= 50mg/Kg
Other regulated
drugs

13. Waste Generator Status:
Amount of waste
generated
Facility based
number
Definition:
1000Kg/month of
normal waste
100Kg/month
Hazardous waste
Thresholds
Under the
threshold:
Facility’s waste are
unregulated
Above threshold:
Facility must
undergo
mandatory
regulation
Regulation
s

14. Common practices in waste management

15. Recycling and Minimization
Reducing waste
at source
Reduced risk
policy Product recycling
Stock
management

16. Sorting and Handling
Ways to deal with sorting
Training individuals is a must
Encouraging them to handle their waste directly
after use
Underlying principles
Each must take responsibility of their own waste
Waste that undergo same treatment doesn’t
undergo sorting

17. Collection and storage
Regular
collection
Separation
depending
on each type
Storage
under strict
criteria
it must be closed, and access must be restricted to authorized persons only;
it must be separate from any food store;
it must be covered and sheltered from the sun;
the flooring must be waterproof with good drainage;
it must be easy to clean;
it must be protected from rodents, birds and other animals;
there must be easy access for on-site and off-site means of transport;
it must be well aired and well lit;
it must be compartmented (so that the various types of waste can be sorted);
it must be near the incinerator, if incineration is the treatment method used;
there must be wash basins nearby;
The entrance must be marked with a sign.

18. Treatment and Disposal disinfection:
• chemical: addition of
disinfectants
• thermal
• biological: enzymes;
mechanical
processes:
shredding);
encapsulation (or
solidification) of
sharps
Burial: sanitary
landfills, trenches,
pits.
There is no
universal way to
treat Medical
waste
• Depends on whether a
waste treatment facility
is nearby
On-site or Off-
site
Other
complications

19. Thank you