Do you have to dispose of chemo drugs as hazardous waste?
Do you have to dispose of chemo drugs as hazardous waste?
Hazardous Waste Chemotherapy Drugs. If a chemo drug waste is classified as a HWP by RCRA, it must be managed as hazardous waste (not medical waste) unless the container is “RCRA-empty” (only residual remaining) or there are only trace amounts of the HWP on waste items, such as gloves or drapes (“trace chemo waste”).
Is there such thing as trace chemo waste?
No, trace chemo waste only includes empty containers, such as syringes or vials. Trace chemo waste does not include liquid waste. See the definition of trace waste above. Any liquid waste containing chemotherapy or hazardous drugs must be collected as hazardous chemical waste for pickup by EH&S.
What makes a chemotherapy drug a hazardous drug?
Drugs are classified as hazardous if they may cause cancer, developmental or reproductive toxicity or harm to organs at low doses. They include drugs used for cancer chemotherapy (also called antineoplastics), antiviral drugs, hormones, some bioengineered drugs and other various drugs.
What kind of waste is considered bulk chemo?
According to the State of Washington’s Department of Ecology, bulk chemotherapy waste includes chemo in containers that are not RCRA-empty, such as unused or partially empty IV bags, syringes, or vials. Chemo spill cleanup materials are also considered bulk chemo. 3
