DISPOSAL OF MEDICATION
Document No
Effective Date
:
WORK INSTRUCTION
Revision No.
:
Division/Dept.: Pharmacy
Page No.
: Page 1 of 2
:
Refer to: PP-AHSC-01-06
Responsible Person: Pharmacy Staffs
Procedure
1. Quarantine medication
Stock held under quarantine:
Securely seal stock in a bag and place in the quarantine area clearly labelled
with QUARANTINE STOCK.
Add the date and reason why the stock has been segregated.
Store quarantined stock, away from all other stock, until further instruction is received.
2. Expired or damaged stock – pharmaceutical waste
Log the expired or damaged stock to be destroyed in the recording book.
Ensure the date of expired stock is clearly marked and stored separately from usable stock.
Sort waste according to the process outlined in no. 4 below.
Dispose of waste according to the process outlined in no. 5 below.
3. Sorting
Authorized staff
Wear appropriate protective clothing – gloves, apron and mask
Identify any cytotoxic or other hazardous waste. Checking with the pharmacist where necessary.
Identify any flammable waste and store separately until this can be removed by the waste contractor.
5. Disposal
Authorized staff
If you have not already done so, wear appropriate protective clothing – gloves, apron and
masks.
For liquid medicines:
Do not decant liquids from bottles into the waste container as the mixing of incompatible liquids into
a single container could result in fire, release of fumes or explosion and harm to your staff or even
prosecution could result.
Empty bottles that have contained liquids should also be placed into the waste medicine container
as they will contain a residue of medicine.
For solid dosage forms:
CONFIDENTIAL: ©2022 AHSCI; All rights reserved. Any
misuse or misappropriation, including unauthorized
copying, reproduction in any form, disclosure or
publishing of this document or any information herein
is strictly prohibited.
Prepared by: Chief Pharmacist
Reviewed by: CQI Manager
Approved by: VP-Medical Affairs
DCC STAMP
DISPOSAL OF MEDICATION
Document No
Effective Date
:
WORK INSTRUCTION
Revision No.
:
Division/Dept.: Pharmacy
Page No.
: Page 2 of 2
:
Do not ‘deblister’ i.e. remove individual tablets or capsules from blister packaging before placing the
waste medicines into the waste disposal container.
For tablets or capsules contained within bottles – place the whole bottle into the waste container.
Where applicable, and place theintact blister strips into the waste container
Cytotoxic and hazardous medicines or chemicals are disposed of in allocated bins as per guidance
from waste contractor.
Dispose of gloves and apron if applicable.
Thoroughly wash hands.
6. Dealing with full containers
Authorized staff
When full, seal the disposal container and store in a safe place, away from empty containers, ready
for collection. Full disposal containers awaiting collection are located in the staff toilet.
If the waste containers are full and the collection date is not in the near future, contact the scheme
co-ordinator to arrange a collection.
Make a record of the waste consignment in the log book.
Complete the required information on the consignment note for hazardous waste. You can either list
each item of hazardous waste individually or use a standard continuation sheet.
Complete the waste transfer sheet (for non hazardous waste)
Check that the number of containers has been correctly completed
It is recommended that copies of all documentation supplied or completed by the approved
waste collector, including the consignment note (for hazardous waste) and the waste transfer note
(for non-hazardous waste) should be kept for a minimum of two years.
CONFIDENTIAL: ©2022 AHSCI; All rights reserved. Any
misuse or misappropriation, including unauthorized
copying, reproduction in any form, disclosure or
publishing of this document or any information herein
is strictly prohibited.
Prepared by: Chief Pharmacist
Reviewed by: CQI Manager
Approved by: VP-Medical Affairs
DCC STAMP
0
