Pharmacies often cite conflicting EPA, FDA, and DEA regulations along with a lack of pharmacies often cite conflicting EPA, FDA, and DEA regulations along with a lack of informative resources as roadblocks to instituting a comprehensive pharmaceutical waste management program.

However, operating without a robust, compliant waste program is no longer an option. This was clearly demonstrated earlier this year when the US Department of Veteran Affairs Eastern Kansas Health Care System settled with the EPA for $533,570 for violations that included on-site incineration of hazardous materials. In addition, we have noted a strong trend toward increasing citations and recommendations during regulatory waste inspections in our second annual survey of pharmaceutical waste practices.

This month's special supplement, the second annual Going Green Report, features the results of this survey, including:

• Health systems' annual expenditures on pharmaceutical waste management
• Current state of compliance with RCRA waste requirements
• The rate of regulatory citations
• Most popular processes for identifying hazardous drugs
• Most common approaches for checking compliance with waste stream regulations
• Consulting services providing RCRA-characteristic waste programs

You can use this report to benchmark your organization's progress toward achieving compliance against other facilities nationwide. If you have had success implementing pharmaceutical waste management practices in your facility, we would love to hear your story.

All the best,

R. Mitchell Halvorsen
Publisher

Digital Edition

PP&P is now available online in the exact layout and appearance of the print edition, and includes more interactive features, such as the ability to access websites and request information with the click of a mouse. To view this article in the digital edition, CLICK HERE.