EPA Hazardous Pharmaceutical Waste Rule update

On February 22, 2019, EPA finalized tailored and streamlined standards for managing hazardous waste pharmaceuticals that reduce the cost and compliance burden for the health care sector, while ensuring the safe management of hazardous waste pharmaceuticals. These changes provide regulatory certainty and national consistency on how the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) applies to the reverse distribution of prescription pharmaceuticals while incorporating flexibilities to accommodate current business practices.

With this rule EPA is also taking a common-sense regulatory approach to the disposal of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved, over-the-counter nicotine replacement therapies (i.e., patches, gums and lozenges), which will no longer be considered hazardous waste when discarded.

Join us for a webinar to learn more about these regulatory changes and how they will impact your health care facility.

Please see EPA's website for this rule for more information and to access additional resources:

https://www.epa.gov/hwgenerators/final-rule-management-standards-hazardous-waste-pharmaceuticals-and-amendment-p075

The three primary components of the Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals Final Rule
The ban on sewering hazardous waste pharmaceuticals
The difference between reverse distribution and reverse logistics

Kristin Fitzgerald

U.S. EPA Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery

Kristin has been with the U.S. EPA for eighteen years, working primarily on hazardous waste generator issues. Kristin started working with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) over twenty-five years ago, answering questions on the RCRA/Superfund Hotline. She holds a B.A. in Government from St. Lawrence University in New York and an M.S. in Environmental Science and Policy from George Mason University in Virginia.

Laura Stanley

U.S. EPA Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery

Laura has been an economist with the U.S. EPA for four years, working primarily on hazardous waste generator issues. She holds a B.S. in economics from James Madison University and an M.A. in economics from George Mason University.

Brian Knieser

U.S. EPA Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery

Brian started at the U.S. EPA in 2016 in the hazardous waste recycling and generator program. Since then he has primarily worked on the Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals rulemaking, and implementation of the Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements rule. He has a B.S. from the College of William & Mary, and an M.S. from Johns Hopkins University.