                            Notes from Meeting with
  National Solid Wastes Management Association's Healthcare Waste Institute
                                       
                                       
Attended by:
NSWMA/HWI Staff:		Alice Jacobsohn, Hal Miller, Edward Repa

Others:	Tom Barrett (On-Site Sterilization) Krista Haynes (Med-Dispose, Inc.), Selin Hoboy (Stericycle), Gerald Hubbell (Sustainable Medical Corp.), Kerry Kelly (Waste Management), Charlotte Smith (Waste Management), George Weishoff (Med-Flex, Inc.)
	
EPA Staff:	Kristin Fitzgerald, Lisa Lauer, Charlotte Mooney, Jamie Piziali

Date:			March 5, 2012


EPA met with representatives and members of the Healthcare Waste Institute.

They inquired about the progress of the pharmaceuticals proposed rule and whether the rule would be requiring that all pharmaceuticals be managed as hazardous waste. 

Stericycle indicated that they had applied for and received a RCRA Part B permit for its Indiana reverse distribution facility.

We discussed the management of sharps and syringes.  HWI suggested that syringes should not have leftover drug in them when placed in sharps containers and that leftover drug could be squirted onto a pad.  Under this scenario, the dispensed syringe would then be placed into the sharps container and the pad with the leftover drug would be managed as solid or hazardous waste.  They stated that sharps boxes are typically autoclaved and then sent to a municipal solid waste landfill or to incineration at a municipal solid waste combustor or regulated medical waste combustor.  

We also discussed drug samples from doctor's offices.  HWI stated that drug reps are not permitted to take samples back and that manufacturer's credit is not given for samples.  

HWI indicated that there are 4 hazardous wastes that are also DEA controlled substances:
   1. Paraldehyde (not used anymore)
   2. Chloral hydrate (pediatric sedative still in use)
   3. Valium injectable (D001)
   4. Testosterone injectable (D001)

