PHS Wastemanagement calls for segregation of prescription waste

Following the revelation that £300m of prescription drugs are being thrown away annually, PHS Wastemanagement has urged Doctors and Pharmacists to segregate non hazardous pharmaceutical waste in an effort to save thousands of pounds on disposal every year.

Last month, a report in the BBC revealed that £300m of prescription drugs are being needlessly thrown away every year because of the way medicines are prescribed, ordered and consumed by patients.

PHS Wastemanagement, the leading provider of pharmaceutical waste collection and disposal services in the UK, is now urging doctors to dispose of surplus medicinal waste correctly to save significant amounts of money on collection.

PHS Wastemanagement''s Rose Bristow commented;

“The BBC report revealed that Pharmacies are being inundated with waste prescription medicines, which have to be disposed of in compliance with the Misuse of Drugs Act 2001. Unfortunately, many pharmacies make the mistake of putting their hazardous and non hazardous waste into the same hazardous waste bin because they are unsure of the correct way to dispose of controlled drugs and pharmaceutical waste. This means they incur associated hazardous waste charges, which they could have avoided by simply segregating their waste correctly.”

PHS Wastemanagement explains that general pharmaceutical waste is actually classed as non hazardous; including expired, used, contaminated and spilt pharmaceutical drugs. Controlled drugs are also deemed non-hazardous, but they have to be denatured before they can be disposed of with other non hazardous waste. Hormone and cancer treatments are the exception. This type of waste is classified as hazardous and should be segregated from other controlled drugs.

Rose Bristow continued;

“As the UK’s leading provider of pharmaceutical waste collection and disposal services, PHS Wastemanagement can advise NHS Trusts, pharmacies, dispensing GP Practices and hospitals on the correct disposal methods for their waste. This will include information on which medicines are classed as hazardous and which are non hazardous. PHS Wastemanagement can then collect your waste at a frequency to suit you, offering a complete disposal audit from point of use right through to final destruction. Medical waste is a highly legislated area and we will ensure that all waste is handled strictly in line with current legislation and according to Best Practice Guidelines.”