/ en Thu, 21 Nov 2024 19:00:14 -0600 Wed, 09 Jun 21 15:29:40 -0500 /ahe-epa-addresses-challenges-managing-hazardous-waste-pharmaceuticals <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-9 col-sm-9 col-xs-12 "><h3>Simplify and Save Money</h3><p>For many years, the health care community has communicated its dissatisfaction with the application of traditional hazardous waste regulations to the management of hazardous waste pharmaceuticals. The EPA’s response has resulted in three regulatory changes that will greatly impact how hazardous waste pharmaceuticals are managed in health care environments.</p><p>These three key changes impact the daily responsibilities of environmental services teams and other health care workers. The 91°µÍøºÚÁÏhas put together materials to ensure members have a robust understanding of these new protocols, ensuring all safety precautions and waste management measures are fully adhered to in the environment of care.</p><h3>Summary</h3><p>The EPA’s changes to the regulation of hazardous waste pharmaceuticals under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) took effect on August 21, 2019. This includes the federal administered states of Iowa and Alaska, as well as most US territories. Implemented effectively, these three changes can help your organization save money and simplify hazardous waste management.</p><h2>Access 91°µÍøºÚÁÏResources</h2><h3>Pharmaceutical Waste Update On-Demand Webinar: Save Money, Reduce Risk with Subpart P</h3><p>View our on-demand webinar, presented by Charlotte A. Smith, R. Ph., M.S., for an in-depth look at all the ways your organization can save time and money, while staying in compliance with local and national hazardous pharmaceutical waste guidelines.</p><p><br><a class="btn btn-default btn-o background-color-deep-red" href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HZ9QYWJ"><strong>Take Survey</strong></a></p><h3>91°µÍøºÚÁÏTechnical Paper: EPA Addresses Challenges in Managing Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals</h3><p><em>91°µÍøºÚÁÏMember Resource</em></p><p><a href="/system/files/media/file/2021/06/AHE_Tecnical_Report_Managing_Hazardous_Waste_Pharmaceuticals_v2.pdf"><img src="/sites/default/files/2021-06/AHE-Hazardous_Waste_Pharmaceuticals_155x200.png" alt="pharmaceutical waste graphic" width="155" height="200"></a></p><p>Download this reference for a deep dive explanation about the new updates, and a look at the science behind the new regulations for the handling and disposal of hazardous pharmaceutical waste.</p><p><a class="btn btn-default btn-o background-color-deep-red" href="/system/files/media/file/2021/06/AHE_Tecnical_Report_Managing_Hazardous_Waste_Pharmaceuticals_v2.pdf"><strong>Download Technical Paper</strong></a></p><h3>Infographic: New Hazardous Pharm Waste Rules</h3><p><a href="/system/files/media/file/2021/06/AHE_Resources_Pharma_Waste.pdf"><img src="/sites/default/files/2021-06/AHE_Resources_Pharma_Waste-200x155.png" alt="pharmaceutical waste graphic" width="200" height="155"></a></p><p>Download AHE’s infographic on the three major changes to the regulation of hazardous waste pharmaceuticals.</p><p><a class="btn btn-default btn-o background-color-deep-red" href="/system/files/media/file/2021/06/AHE_Resources_Pharma_Waste.pdf"><strong>View Infographic</strong></a></p><h2>Breaking Down the Three Key Changes</h2><ol><li>No hazardous waste pharmaceuticals can be disposed down the drain anywhere in the US.<br><br><strong>What it means for you: </strong>No hazardous waste pharmaceuticals can be disposed down the drain, <strong>including</strong> unused IVs in the nursing unit. All hazardous waste materials must be incinerated as hazardous pharmaceutical waste.<br><br><strong>What you need to do:</strong> Partner with both the pharmacy department and nursing department to develop a new pharmaceutical waste policy at your health care organization. Prohibit the draining of these drugs in unused IVs and other dosage forms, such as tablets and capsules. Consider a total ban on draining any pharmaceutical waste to avoid confusion.</li><li>The EPA amended the definition of nicotine as a p-listed hazardous waste, P075, to exclude over-the-counter (OTC) nicotine replacement therapy in the form of the lozenges, gums, and patches. This new provision must be adopted by every state.<br><br><strong>What it means for you: </strong>Unused nicotine patches, gums, and lozenges and their empty packaging can be disposed as non-hazardous pharmaceutical waste when this is adopted by your state. Used nicotine patches should be managed as non-hazardous.<br><br><strong>What you need to do:</strong> Determine if your state has already adopted the OTC nicotine amendment; check with your pharmacy and nursing departments to see if they have already made appropriate changes to policies and procedures. If they have not, partner with these departments to develop a new protocol.<br><br><strong>*Note: Only OTC nicotine is included. This new provision does NOT include prescription nicotine replacement therapy.</strong></li><li>The EPA created a new specific section in hazardous waste regulations, 40 CFR 266 Subpart P, Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals. This new section provides significant guidance in terms of generator status, empty container management, reverse distribution, exemption of hazardous waste controlled substances, and other changes.<br><br><strong>What it means for you:</strong> With these new criteria, many health care facilities can change from large quantity generators (LQG) of hazardous waste to small quantity generators (SQG), or very small quantity generators (VSQG).<br><br><strong>What you need to do:</strong> Using the provided webinar and white pages, determine if your facility can reduce its generator status, saving money and contributing less hazardous waste to the environment.</li></ol></div></div></div><div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-9 col-sm-9 col-xs-12 "> </div></div></div> Wed, 09 Jun 2021 15:29:40 -0500 Pharmacy /education-events/pharmaceutical-waste-update-webinar-save-money-reduce-risk-subpart-p <h3><span><span><span><span><span><span>12:00pm CST.<br> <em>To be available after initial broadcast on demand.</em></span></span></span></span></span></span></h3> <p>Join us Wednesday, April 21, 2021 for a live presentation describing EPA’s new Subpart P Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals Rule and how it can simplify pharmaceutical waste management in your organization while saving money in training, handling, and disposal requirements. We’ll discuss the OTC nicotine exemption, changes in the empty container rules, a potential reduction in generator status, and the requirement for SQGs and LQGs to register within certain timeframes.  Approximately 50% of states have already adopted Subpart P, with the rest following within the next year or so. Whether you are playing catch up or want to get ahead of the curve, this webinar is for you! </p> <hr> <p><img alt="C Smith Head shot" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="26679999-b880-4765-953a-1d62f1801ff6" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Smith_C.png" width="275" height="273"></p> <h3>Presenter: Charlotte A. Smith, R. Ph., M.S., Senior Regulatory Advisor, PharmEcology Services, WMSS. </h3> <p> <br> Charlotte Smith, R. Ph., M.S. is Senior Regulatory Advisor, PharmEcology Services, a business unit of WM Sustainability Services. She founded PharmEcology Associates, LLC in 2000 and sold the company to Waste Management in 2009.  She co-founded Capital Returns, Inc., a nationally known pharmaceutical reverse distributor in 1991 and for 10 years served as president and chief regulatory advisor.  Ms. Smith is a registered pharmacist who received her BS in Pharmacy and MS in Continuing and Vocational Education from the University of Wisconsin.  She is a member of the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, and the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists.</p> Thu, 11 Mar 2021 08:24:45 -0600 Pharmacy