As reported by the U.S.-based Waste Business Journal (www.wastebusinessjournal.com), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is now considering healthcare facility-specific regulations for managing hazardous pharmaceutical waste rather than regulate them under its universal waste program as proposed in December 2008.
The action follows criticism from states and the healthcare industry that EPA’s original approach would fail to address improper disposal of the waste.
The Environmental Council of the States, representing state environmental regulators, wrote that EPA's proposed rule was unlikely to divert pharmaceuticals from sewer systems because of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA's) witnessed destruction requirements and because reverse distributors cannot accept most pharmaceutical wastes generated outside the pharmacy.
