From the USEPA website: Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals Wiki
EPA launched the Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals Wiki as a public platform for healthcare professionals to share their expertise regarding whether pharmaceuticals are hazardous waste when discarded. Professionals in the healthcare industry must register to edit and contribute new information to the wiki, pending EPA’s approval. Anyone may view the Wiki without registering. This project will foster compliance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act in the healthcare industry by aiding that first crucial step in managing hazardous waste: determining that the waste is indeed a hazardous waste.
Who can Participate?
Members of the healthcare community are invited to participate. This includes healthcare professionals, state and local agencies, tribes, federal agencies, consultants, nonprofit organizations, and members of industry and professional organizations, among others. Anyone can view the Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals Wiki, but only those in the healthcare community may contribute to or edit the Wiki.
How can I Participate?
- Share your expertise in waste determinations to aid in the proper disposal of hazardous waste pharmaceuticals to protect human health and the environment.
- Add information specific to your State’s hazardous waste programs to aid others located in that State.
- Share helpful links to assist others in the healthcare community.
Visit the Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals Wiki for more information, including instructions on how to register.
What if I’m not a Healthcare Professional?
This Wiki is intended to help healthcare professionals that discard pharmaceuticals; it is not intended for household consumers of pharmaceuticals. The status of pharmaceuticals as hazardous waste should not imply that they are unsafe for use when they are taken as directed. For recommended disposal practices of pharmaceuticals by household consumers, see Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PDF).
It is important to note that an improper hazardous waste determination for pharmaceutical waste is a frequent cause of RCRA violations at hospitals and medical facilities. I recommend you take advantage of this wiki to improve your knowledge of pharmaceutical disposal and perhaps provide information that may help others.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have about the management of hazardous waste at a hospital or pharmaceutical manufacturer.