Health Care Industry

Pharmaceuticals are a waste stream common to all health care facilities.

Health care providers are subject to federal, state, and sometimes county hazardous waste regulations because they generate waste that, if mismanaged, can harm human health and the environment. The requirements of these regulations include, but are not limited to:

• Evaluate all waste to determine whether it is hazardous; assume that all waste that has not been evaluated is hazardou,
• Store hazardous waste in closed and labeled containers,
• Transport hazardous waste using only licensed hazardous waste haulers, except for very small quantity generators transporting their own waste to approved collection programs,
• Discharge appropriate hazardous waste to the sanitary sewer (not septic systems) only after prior notice to the local wastewater treatment authority,
  • Note: the MPCA strongly discourages sewering pharmaceutical waste.

Health care spotlight

• Pharmaceutical Reverse Distribution (posted October 25, 2011) In Minnesota, once a product is intended to be discarded because it will no longer be used for its intended purpose (e.g. dispensed to a patient), it is a waste. This means an expired pharmaceutical is a waste in Minnesota. The MPCA recently published a factsheet that explains the requirements for managing waste pharmaceuticals through reverse distribution.
  • Pharmaceutical reverse distribution (w-hw3-36b)
• Nonhospital Health Care Initiative (posted August 31, 2009)
  The MPCA and the Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP), a non-regulatory pollution prevention program at the University of Minnesota, are conducting an initiative to assist clinics, dentists, long term care, pharmacies and veterinarians with compliance and waste reduction. Learn more about the initiative.
• Household Pharmaceuticals and Sharps
  The MPCA Household Hazardous Waste Program provides guidance for residential (non-commercial) disposal of pharmaceuticals and sharps.
  • Household pharmaceutical disposal
  • Household sharps disposal
  •   Household Pharmaceutical Consolidation Site Application form (w-hhw2-04)
  • Law Enforcement Guidance Document - Managing household pharmaceuticals (w-hhw2-06)

Guidance documents

Sterile indicators may contain toxic amounts of lead.

Hazardous waste guidance for health care providers

• Managing Waste from Health Care Providers (overview)
• Regulatory Consensus on Health Care Issues [#3.35] (4/12)
• Evaluating Pharmaceutical Wastes [#4.45a] (8/04)
• The Lethality Characteristic [#2.05] (5/09)
• Alternate Method to Evaluate Pharmaceutical Waste for the Lethality Characteristic [#4.45b] (6/05)
• Reverse Distribution of Non-controlled Pharmaceutical Products [#3.36b] (6/09)

Hazardous waste guidance for environmental services

• Managing Waste Aerosols [#4.00] (rev. 3/99)
• Managing Dry-Cell Batteries [#4.05] (rev. 6/02)
• Managing Universal Wastes [#4.62] (2/07)
• Managing Electronic Wastes from Business Sources [#4.15] (rev. 11/04)
• Paint and Ink Wastes [#4.40] (rev. 5/04)
• Oil, Used, and Related Wastes: Management for Generators [#4.30] (rev. 1/04)
• Managing Towels, Wipes, and Sorbents [#4.61] (rev. 2/01)
• Air Emission Control Requirements for Health Care Facilities (aq1-26) (rev. 3/11)
• Sewered Waste Notification Form and Instructions [#7.11] (rev. 12/12)

General hazardous waste requirements

• “10 Steps” fact sheets
• Characteristic Wastes
• F List of Hazardous Waste
• K List of Hazardous Waste
• P List of Hazardous Waste (Acute Waste)
• U List of Hazardous Waste
• Empty Containers
• Other Topics

Pollution prevention

Pollution prevention/waste minimization

• Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP) Health Care
  • Best Management Practices for Disinfectants
  • Meeting JCAHO Standards with Pollution Prevention
  • Pharmaceutical Management
  • Reduce Hazardous Chemicals/Waste
  • Reducing Hazardous Chemical Spills
  • Mercury in Health Care Lab Reagents
  • Suction Canister Waste Reduction
  • Source Reduction Case Study
• What is Waste Reduction
• Good Operating Practices
• Inventory Management
• Waste Stream Segregation
• Developing a Waste Reduction Plan

Partners and resources

• Metro County Hazardous Waste Offices
  • Anoka County 763-422-7093
  • Carver County 952-361-1800
  • Dakota County 952-891-7557
  • Hennepin County 612-348-3777
  • Ramsey County 651-266-1199
  • Scott County 952-496-8475
  • Washington County 651-430-6655
• Solid Waste Management Coordination Board (SWMCB)
  • A joint powers board that coordinates regional initiatives of the solid and hazardous waste programs in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, and Washington counties.
  • Web Site: http://www.swmcb.org
• Sewering - Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES)
  • Minneapolis - St. Paul metropolitan area 651-602-4703
  • Web Site: http://www.metrocouncil.org/environment/environment.htm
• Sewering - Greater Minnesota Delegated Programs
  • Albert Lea 507-373-9159
  • Mankato 507-387-8665
  • Owatonna 507-444-2452
  • Red Wing 651-385-3641
  • Rochester 507-281-6190 x 3006
  • St. Cloud 320-255-7225
  • WLSSD (Duluth area) 218-740-4815
  • Winona 507-457-8207
• Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP)
  • Toll free 800-247-0015
  • Metro 612-624-1300
  • Web Site: http://www.mntap.umn.edu
• Minnesota Department of Health
  • Radioactive waste 651-642-0492
  • Web Site: http://www.health.state.mn.us
• Additional Internet Resources
  • MPCA Rules and Regulations
  • Metropolitan Council Environmental Services
  • Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance
  • Minnesota Technical Assistance Program
  • Minnesota Department of Transportation
  • Minnesota Emergency Response Commission
  • Minnesota Department of Labor
  • Minnesota Department of Health
  • Practice Greenhealth
  • MN Department of Transportation Commercial Vehicles Operations Information
  • Know What To Throw - A to Z Material Management Directory for Businesses
  • Greener Choices (includes E-waste center)
  • Minnesota Materials Exchange
  • Recycling Markets Directory
  • Electronics Recycling
  • Healthcare Environmental Resource Center
  • H2E Self Assessment Guide
  • Preventing Occupational Exposure to Antineoplastic and Other Hazardous Drugs in Health Care Settings (NIOSH)
  • Prevention of Employee Exposure - hazardous drug safety and health plan (OSHA)
  • Waste Source Reduction Case Study
  • Green Guide for Health Care
  • Sustainable Hospitals

Contact MPCA

• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
  • Toll free (all locations) 800-657-3864
  • Brainerd 218-828-2492
  • Detroit Lakes 218-847-1519
  • Duluth 218-723-4660
  • Marshall 507-537-7146
  • Rochester 507-206-2631
  • St. Paul 651-296-6300
  • Willmar 320-214-3786
  • MPCA Visitor Center