Household Hazardous Waste

Pharmaceutical Drug Waste

• Background
• Definition
• The Law
• Where to Dispose of Pharmaceuticals
• Stakeholder Involvement
• Additional Resources
• For More Information

Background

The U.S. Geological Survey in 2002 sampled streams in 30 states. Of the 139 streams tested, 80 percent had measurable concentrations of prescription and nonprescription drugs, steroids, and reproductive hormones.

Exposure to even low levels of drugs has negative effects on fish and other aquatic species, and also may negatively affect human health. This website offers guidance to help the public dispose of pharmaceutical waste in a safe, efficient and environmentally sound manner, using methods that are convenient, cost-effective, sustainable and environmentally sound (PRC 47120 (a)).

Definition

Pharmaceutical drug waste is defined as items intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in humans or other animals. Pharmaceutical waste is synonymous with drug waste, unused or expired medication, or unused or expired drugs, prescription and over-the-counter human drugs, veterinary drugs, diagnostic agents, and nutritional supplements.

The Law

The disposal of pharmaceutical waste is governed by provisions of SB 966 (Simitian, Chapter 542, Statutes of 2007). It requires the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) to develop, in consultation with appropriate government agencies, criteria and procedures for model programs for the collection and proper disposal of pharmaceutical waste. Provisions of SB 966 remain in effect until January 1, 2013. For more information, go to the Pharmaceutical Waste Management Plan page.

Where to Dispose of Pharmaceuticals

Medical Waste Disposal Directory. This directory lists facilities in California that collect pharmaceuticals for disposal near to where you live or work. You may also check with your local government Household Hazardous Waste Program or local pharmacy or hospital.

Note:

• Only facilities or events with a law enforcement officer present may accept controlled substances such as codeine, opiates, or tranquilizers.
• Chemotherapy pharmaceuticals should be returned to the clinic that dispensed them.

Mail Back If no collection facilities are available in your area, you may find postage paid mailers by searching the Internet for keywords such as “pharmaceutical mail back”.

Other Options

There are no laws that forbid households from putting pharmaceuticals into the trash if the pharmaceuticals would not be considered hazardous waste. Usually the pharmaceuticals in a home that are likely to be considered hazardous waste are only those prescribed for chemotherapy. If take-back programs are not available to you, and if your local household hazardous waste facility does not accept pharmaceuticals, then disposing nonchemotherapy pharmaceuticals in the trash is probably your best option. For more information on effective trash disposal, see the Board of Pharmacy's recommended pharmaceutical disposal method (Adobe PDF, 161 KB)

Do not dispose of waste pharmaceuticals down the drain or down the toilet. This includes any prescription or nonprescription substances intended to be swallowed, inhaled, injected, applied to the skin or eyes, or otherwise absorbed.

Stakeholder Involvement

Developing Criteria and Procedures

As directed by SB 966, CIWMB formed a working group that consisted of representatives from the Pharmacy Board, State Water Resources Control Board, California Department of Public Health (CDPH), and the Department of Toxic Substances Control. CIWMB staff convened the working group and conducted four workshops during 2008 to facilitate comments and suggestions from stakeholders representing local government, pharmaceutical companies, medical and hazardous waste haulers, for-profit and non-profit health care providers, and other interested parties (see the Pharmaceutical Waste Management Plan for more details). As a result of this collaboration, Criteria and Procedures are available for facilities willing to become model programs.

Model Programs

If your pharmaceutical collection program meets the requirements of the Criteria and Procedures, you may become a model program. As a model program you would:

• Be recognized as a leader in pharmaceutical disposal in California.
• Provide valuable statistics for program efficacy, safety, statewide accessibility, and cost effectiveness.
• Potentially help improve pharmaceutical disposal throughout California as part of a report to the California Legislature in December 2010.

To become a model program, please review the Criteria and Procedures and contact Burke Lucy at (916) 341-6484 or pharmasharps@ciwmb.ca.gov to have your program reviewed for compliance.

Additional Resources

State Agencies

• California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle)
  • Pharmaceutical Waste Management Plan web page--Provides information and timelines on CIWMB’s plan to implement current State law governing disposal of pharmaceutical waste.
  • Sharps Waste web page--Provides information for self-injectors to locate facilities for the proper disposal of sharps waste and assists local governments to set up collection programs.
  • Healthcare Waste web page--Provides information on reducing pharmaceutical waste generated at health care facilities and how to dispose of that waste.
• California Board of Pharmacy--The Board of Pharmacy protects and promotes the health and safety of Californians by pursuing the highest quality of pharmacist care and the appropriate use of pharmaceuticals through education, communication, licensing, legislation, regulation, and enforcement. Learn about the Board of Pharmacy's recommended pharmaceutical disposal method (Adobe PDF, 161 KB).
• California Department of Public Health--Provides information to help protect the public and the environment from potential infectious exposure to disease-causing agents by regulating the handling, storage, treatment, and disposal of medical waste.
• California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC)--Provides information on pharmaceuticals and personal care products; their description, how they affect the environment, regulatory issues, and their proper disposal.

Other Resources

• Product Stewardship Institute (PSI)--Provides publications on pharmaceuticals in the environment and PSI's effort to develop a national program requiring producers to be responsible for the collection and disposal of unwanted and expired pharmaceuticals.
• No Drugs Down The Drain--Provides information on the problem of improper disposal of pharmaceuticals and how this is affecting the environment. The web page also provides information about its statewide campaign for California to raise awareness about this issue.
• Teleosis Institute--Provides information on why drugs are in our water, how they affect our environment, how they affect human health, why they go unused, and what we can do about this problem.
• Earth911.com--Provides a comprehensive database of recycling locations accepting hundreds of products throughout the United States.

For More Information

Stay informed about CIWMB’s latest developments to promote safe disposal of pharmaceutical waste.

• Listserv: To receive periodic information about pharmaceutical waste, subscribe to the Medical Waste: Sharps and Pharmaceuticals Listserv.
• Contact: Please contact pharmasharps@ciwmb.ca.gov for questions or more information.