The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 275 No 7356 p6
2 July 2005

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Small waste producers need not contact Environment Agency

Primary care organisations and pharmacy contractors in England and Wales need not spend money notifying the Environment Agency that a pharmacy is a hazardous waste producer unless they expect to produce more than 200kg of this waste per year, says the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee.

The Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005 come into effect on 16 July and, after this date, a waste contractor will not be able to remove such waste from a pharmacy unless the pharmacy has notified the agency or is complying with an exemption.
However, the PSNC says that it believes few pharmacies will need to concern themselves with this notification because “shops” are exempt so long as they do not produce more than 200kg of hazardous waste per year.

The PSNC has become aware of waste contractors approaching pharmacies and primary care trusts offering to notify the agency for a reported sum of almost £50. The PSNC reminds pharmacists that notification direct to the agency costs £18 via the internet, or slightly more in writing or by telephone.

The PSNC has issued guidance about waste medicines this week. It explains the forthcoming changes to waste legislation, such as the segregation of hazardous waste from non-hazardous waste. It also describes concessions that have been secured from the Environment Agency. Regulations regarding the disposal of sharps, waste from nursing homes and the destruction of Controlled Drugs and medicines supplied in blister packs have also been updated, and can be obtained via PJ Online (www.pjonline.com/links/pj).