PHARMACY
Standard Operating Procedure
DISPOSAL OF MEDICATION
Scope
This procedure deals with the general medicine disposal. This SOP does not cover the disposal of
Controlled Drugs. Disposal of Controlled Drugs is covered in the Pharmacy SOP: Controlled Drugs:
Destruction
Procedure
P1
All staff are authorised to dispose of medicines
All staff
The following dispensary staff roles are authorised to deal with the disposal of medicines:
 Pharmacists
 Technicians
 Dispensers
 Healthcare Assistants
P2
Quarantine medication
Authorised staff
Stock held under quarantine:
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P3
Securely seal stock in a bag and place in [insert details of designated] area clearly labelled
with QUARANTINE STOCK.
Add the date and reason why the stock has been segregated.
Store quarantined stock in [insert details of designated area], away from all other stock, until
further instruction is received. Fridge lines should be stored in [insert details of designated
fridge] quarantine area.
Expired or damaged stock – pharmaceutical waste
Authorised staff
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P4
Log expired or damaged stock to be destroyed in [insert recording medium and location]
Ensure date expired stock is clearly marked and stored separately from usable stock
Sort waste according to the process outlined in P4 below
Dispose of waste according to the process outlined in P5 below
Sorting
Authorised staff

Wear appropriate protective clothing – gloves, apron and mask
PHARMACY
Standard Operating Procedure
DISPOSAL OF MEDICATION
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P5
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.
Disposal
Authorised staff

If you have not already done so, wear appropriate protective clothing – gloves, apron and
masks.
For sharps:
 Do NOT remove needles from syringes – place the whole syringe into the sharps container
 Dispose of sharps in an appropriate sharps container – where possible it is good practice to
use:
 [insert details of designated] sharps container for sharps contaminated with cytotoxic or
cytostatic hazardous medicines
 [insert details of designated] sharps container for sharps contaminated with non-hazardous
medicines
 [insert details of designated] sharps container for sharps which are not contaminated with
medicines.
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:
 Do not ‘deblister’ i.e. remove individual tablets or capsules from blister packaging before
placing the waste medicines into the waste disposal container. (This could be regarded as
‘waste treatment’ which could require a licence)
 For tablets or capsules contained within bottles – place the whole bottle into the waste
container
 Where applicable remove the blister strips from the outer cardboard carton and place the
intact 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.
P6
Dealing with full containers
PHARMACY
Standard Operating Procedure
DISPOSAL OF MEDICATION
Authorised staff
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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 [insert name and location of recording medium]
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.
I have read and understood this standard operating procedure.
Date
Date of Preparation:
Name
Date of next review:
Prepared by:
Signature:
Date review takes
Version:
place and initials
Signature
DUE: