Unwanted Medication

From time-to-time, you will have unused or date expired medication which should be safely disposed off under various regulations. There are different regulations for normal medication, controlled drugs, hazardous waste and sharps etc.Pharmacies are obliged to accept back unwanted medicines from patients. The pharmacy will sort them into solids (including ampoules and vials), liquids and aerosols if required by the CCG or the waste contractor, and CCGs will make arrangements to collect the medicines from pharmacies at regular intervals. Changes in Hazardous Waste Regulations resulted in additional requirements for segragation of waste in certain circumstances.

PSNC has worked with the Department of Health, the Environment Agency and others, to prepare guidance for pharmacies. The most authoritative guidance is published by the Department of Health as Health Technical Memorandum 07-06: Disposal of pharmaceutical waste in community pharmacies. It is expected that this guidance will be updated during 2010 – 2011; in the meantime, the PSNC Contract Workbook 2009-2010 provides a useful summary.