EPA Regulated Medical Waste Disposal in Tampa

19 Aug EPA Regulated Medical Waste Disposal in Tampa

10 Tips for Environmentally Safe Waste Management

Taking the time to ensure your clinic practices safe and proper pharmaceutical waste procedures is essential. The regulations that follow these procedures are incredibly detailed and come with expensive consequences if not followed. These fines are put in place due to the repercussions that can come from not following guidelines. The results of improper waste management can affect not only humans but also animals and the surrounding environment. If these types of toxic waste are not properly disposed of, they can find their way into the water, soil, and even air. Any facility can be found non-compliant if they’re not disposing of their waste correctly. The regulations apply to any facility that handles pharmaceuticals. Ask yourself these next ten helpful questions to ensure your facility stays compliant with the regulations set by the EPA when handling medical waste disposal in Tampa. 

Ten EPA Guidelines to Follow for EPA Compliant Waste Management

1. Are you taking the time to separate aerosol inhalers from your other types of waste? If not, you can potentially be fined for noncompliance from the EPA and the DOT (Department of Transportation).
   
2. Are you making sure that you’re familiar with and following the guidelines and regulations regarding the disposal of bulk or trace chemotherapy drugs?

3. Do you take the time to ensure all of your hazardous materials are properly labeled? Are you making sure that all labels state the type of hazard the waste is, and are they visible? If not, you could receive hefty fines.

4. Are all of your employees up to date on their RCRA training? Are they familiar with the proper segregation of different types of pharmaceutical waste?

5. Do you keep proper documentation or perform inspections weekly to ensure all containers are up to standard? Making sure containers are up to standard also helps ensure that all waste is adequately separated, labeled, and contained.

6. Are you handling your expired DEA controlled pharmaceuticals properly? This entails keeping inventory and ensuring the DEA 222 form is accurately updated, which will always be provided by the reverse distributor.

7. Are you making sure your pharmaceutical waste is being stored properly? This means tracking the volume of waste produced and knowing whether you’re a small generator, large generator, or conditionally exempt small generator (a facility that provides extremely low quantities of waste). You must know the difference between the three.

8. Do you have a plan set in case of any emergency? Every healthcare facility should have a written policy that all employees are familiar with in the case of an emergency.

9. Are you familiar with how long a large quantity generator is allowed to keep pharmaceutical waste (even including p-list waste)? It’s 90 days!

10. Is there a bill of lading for your hazardous waste materials? There should always be documentation of when these materials are shipped, transported, or destroyed. 

Medical Waste Disposal for Tampa

It is vital to make sure you’re correctly keeping track of and disposing of your hazardous waste properly. It’s important to follow guidelines to avoid hefty fines and keep yourself, those around you, and the environment protected. Here at BioWaste Secure, we make sure to follow all the guidelines and practices to ensure we comply with every regulatory body. Our attention to detail in following EPA guidelines translates to how we safely and effectively manage waste.