Pharmaceutical waste, including unused medications and personal care products, poses a threat to human and environmental health. It requires special treatment and cannot be disposed of like conventional waste. Poorly managed waste could end up in the hands of people who abuse drugs. Sharps and other supplies can also contain hazards. Wastewater treatment plants are not equipped to handle pharmaceuticals, and drug washing is no longer encouraged. Waste management companies can safely dispose of unused and expired medicines and other pharmaceutical supplies.
Pharmaceutical waste is a form of medical waste that includes unused medications, over-the-counter personal care products, and sometimes accessories such as sharps, used test strips, and other consumables. It is a cause for concern because it poses a threat to human and environmental health. Due to the dangers, pharmaceutical waste cannot be disposed of like conventional waste and requires special treatment, whether it comes from hospitals, clinics, pharmacies or private households. Other types of medical waste include biohazard waste and radiation waste.
There are several concerns with pharmaceutical waste management. The first is that drugs released into the environment that are thrown away or excreted in unmetabolized form could pose health risks. Some drugs contain heavy metals, endocrine disruptors and other compounds that are dangerous to animals and the environment. There is also the risk that poorly managed waste could end up in the hands of people who abuse drugs.
Supplies such as sharps, sometimes classified as a form of pharmaceutical waste, can contain hazards such as blood, as well as putting people at risk of injury. Other risks of pharmaceutical waste can include the development of antibiotic resistance in organisms exposed to the waste or the disruption of the flora balance in wastewater treatment plants due to exposure to excreted drugs. Chemicals contained in products such as sunscreens, shampoos and soaps can cause environmental damage, especially when released on a large scale.
Historically, people were often advised to flush excess medication down the toilet, while disposing of supplies such as unused sharps in the same medical waste containers designated for biohazardous sharps. However, the practice of drug washing is no longer encouraged as wastewater treatment plants are not equipped to handle pharmaceuticals. Instead, individual consumers may be told to wrap drug containers with tape to prevent leakage before throwing them away or taking them to a hazardous waste collection site.
On the scale of clinics and hospitals, pharmaceutical waste can be collected along with other medical waste by a company that specializes in handling potentially hazardous waste materials. A special rate is usually charged for this collection service. Unused and expired medicines and other pharmaceutical supplies can be safely disposed of by waste management companies. This includes over-the-counter preparations, ranging from sunscreen to aspirin, which may need to be discarded due to expiration or spoilage. Some unused product may be eligible for donations, another potential route for disposal.
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