Pfizer and Waste Management launch online pharmaceutical disposal guide
U.S. health care providers can sustainably manage the disposal of any Pfizer drug product with online search engine that provides waste categorization and disposal information
Pfizer and WM Healthcare Solutions, Inc., a subsidiary of Waste Management, Inc. announced, this fall (2012), the introduction of a new, free-of-charge online pharmaceutical disposal guide for health care providers and facilities called the “Pfizer Responsible Disposal Advisor.”
Pfizer is the first pharmaceutical company to make this resource available to health care professionals to help guide them through sometimes complex waste disposal requirements.
In support of Pfizer’s commitment to product stewardship and the company’s efforts to manage the environmental impact of its products across their lifecycle, Pfizer enlisted the technology of WM Healthcare Solutions’ patented PharmE® Waste Wizard®, commonly referred to as the Waste Wizard. The Waste Wizard is an online search engine that provides waste categorization and disposal information for all health care facilities, including physician practices, clinics, ambulatory surgery centers, and walk-in clinics.
Waste Wizard information found on Pfizer’s Responsible Disposal Advisor informs health care professionals whether the Pfizer drug to be disposed will be a hazardous waste based on the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) regulations that implement the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). In addition to any relevant waste codes, the Pfizer Responsible Disposal Advisor powered by the Waste Wizard recommends disposal options for full, partial, and empty containers, and provides U.S. Department of Transportation shipping descriptions. Certain commonly used drugs become hazardous waste when health care facilities, including pharmacies, decide to discard them either because the drugs are specifically listed as hazardous by EPA or because they exhibit one or more of the characteristics of hazardous waste specified by EPA.
“According to EPA, health care employees, retail pharmacy staff, and other pharmaceutical waste generators are often unfamiliar with or confused by RCRA hazardous waste management requirements, sometimes making it difficult to properly dispose of hazardous pharmaceutical waste,” said Mike McInerney, vice president of WM Healthcare Solutions.
“With Pfizer’s support, we can now make this information available to the health care community at no charge to encourage proper disposal.”
“Health care facilities face complicated requirements to manage their waste streams,” said Tom Polton, senior director, product stewardship, Pfizer. “The Pfizer Responsible Drug Advisor® using WM Healthcare Solutions’ Waste Wizard technology offers an easy-touse online resource to help hospitals, long-term care facilities, medical clinics, and doctors’ offices determine the disposal recommendations for unused medicines.”
The information provided in the Pfizer Responsible Disposal Advisor® does not apply to medicines discarded by consumers. Consumers wishing to dispose of unwanted medications should consult U.S. FDA’s website. Consumers wishing to take advantage of unused medicines take-back programs in their communities should contact their local police or public health agencies.
Pfizer customers can access the Responsible Disposal Advisor at www.pfizerresponsibledisposal.com and through the Professional Resources link on the home page of www.PfizerPro.com.
WM Healthcare Solutions, Inc. (WMHS) provides cost-effective, sustainable environmental solutions specifically designed for health care customers. As a subsidiary of Waste Management, North America’s leading environmental solutions company, WMHS uses a vast infrastructure and specialized materials-management expertise, including resource recovery, reuse, and recycling. WMHS helps health care customers streamline their operations, maintain regulatory compliance, reduce risk, minimize resource use, maximize profitability, and safeguard their patients, communities, and the environment. WM Healthcare Solutions serves health care organizations throughout the United States. www.healthcare.wm.com.