Disposing of pharmaceutical and other chemical waste such as lab waste can be highly problematic where there are no established treatment facilities. Waste can be minimised by careful stock keeping. Keep a record of the amount of each medicine that is needed and avoid ordering too much to prevent it going out of date. Establish a “first in first out” system in the pharmacy so that the packages which are going to expire first are dispensed first. Wherever possible, healthcare facilities should negotiate take-back agreements with suppliers, whereby the suppliers accept and dispose of pharmaceuticals that their customers cannot use.Various treatment and disposal options are available for different situations. Cheap and easily obtained chemicals can neutralize specific drugs, particularly chemotherapeutic agents. Many are listed in the Annexes of the WHO Guidelines on the Safe Management of Wastes from Healthcare Facilities (the Blue Book). These are particularly...
