U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

EPA Inaction in Identifying 

Hazardous Waste 

Pharmaceuticals May 

Result in Unsafe Disposal 

Report No. 12-P-0508 May 25, 2012 

Scan this mobile code 

to learn more about 

the EPA OIG. 
 

 

 

Report Contributors: Carolyn Copper 

 Steve Hanna 

 Roopa Batni 

 Tapati Bhattacharyya

 Brooke Shull 

Abbreviations 

BMP Best Management Practice 

EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

GAO U.S. Government Accountability Office 

HWPs Hazardous waste pharmaceuticals 

NIOSH National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 

OIG Office of Inspector General 

ORCR Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery 

OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration 

OSWER Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response 

RCRA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act 

UWR Universal Waste Rule 

Cover photo: Examples of pharmaceuticals. (EPA photo) 

Hotline 

To report fraud, waste, or abuse, contact us through one of the following methods: 

e-mail: OIG_Hotline@epa.gov write: EPA Inspector General Hotline 

phone: 

fax: 

1-888-546-8740 

202-566-2599 

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW 

Mailcode 2431T 

online: http://www.epa.gov/oig/hotline.htm Washington, DC 20460 
 

 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 12-P-0508 

May 25, 2012 Office of Inspector General 

At a Glance
 

Why We Did This Review 

We conducted this review to 

evaluate the U.S. 

Environmental Protection 

Agency’s (EPA’s) process to 

identify and appropriately 

classify pharmaceuticals as 

hazardous waste and to ensure 

their safe disposal. 

Background 

The discovery of a variety of 

pharmaceuticals in water has 

raised concerns about 

potentially adverse 

environmental consequences of 

these contaminants. Studies 

have suggested the detection of 

pharmaceutical compounds in 

treated wastewater effluent, 

streams, lakes, seawater, 

drinking water, and 

groundwater, as well as in 

sediments and fish tissue. EPA 

has the authority under the 

Resource Conservation and 

Recovery Act (RCRA) to 

regulate hazardous waste 

pharmaceuticals (HWPs) to 

ensure safe management and 

disposal practices. 

For further information, contact 

our Office of Congressional and 

Public Affairs at (202) 566-2391. 

The full report is at: 

www.epa.gov/oig/reports/2012/ 

20120525-12-P-0508.pdf 

EPA Inaction in Identifying Hazardous Waste 

Pharmaceuticals May Result in Unsafe Disposal 

What We Found 

Since 1980, EPA has not used its RCRA authority to determine whether 

pharmaceuticals may qualify as hazardous waste. EPA also has not established a 

process for the regular identification and review of pharmaceuticals that may qualify 

for regulation as hazardous waste. Without a regular process, EPA cannot provide 

assurance that pharmaceuticals that may pose a hazardous risk to human health and 

the environment have been identified. We identified eight chemicals found in 

pharmaceuticals that meet EPA’s criteria for regulation as acute hazardous waste, but 

wastes containing these chemicals are not regulated as such. There are over 100 drugs 

that federal occupational safety organizations have identified as hazardous but may 

not have been reviewed by EPA to determine whether they may qualify as hazardous 

waste. EPA staff stated they have started examining these drugs for listing as 

hazardous waste. Further, the state of Minnesota recently noted that there has been a 

proliferation of pharmaceutical development since RCRA regulations were 

established. Our review has identified a risk that there are unknown but potentially 

dangerous unregulated HWPs that may be unsafely disposed and released into the 

environment. 

An additional challenge to ensuring the safe disposal of HWPs is that some health 

care facilities, such as hospitals, may be unaware of federal hazardous waste 

regulations. The state of Minnesota, for example, has reported that there is a “general 

lack of awareness by the health care industry of RCRA regulatory requirements.” 

This may result in mismanagement of hazardous waste pharmaceuticals. 

In 2008, EPA proposed an amendment to the Universal Waste Rule to address 

pharmaceutical wastes. However, no action on the Rule has occurred since the close 

of the public comments period in 2009. During our review, EPA staff informed us 

that the Agency has decided to develop another proposal for the regulation of 

hazardous waste pharmaceuticals at health care facilities. EPA staff stated that “due 

to substantial negative public comments received on the 2008 universal waste 

proposal, the Agency is developing a revised proposal for regulation of hazardous 

waste pharmaceuticals at healthcare facilities.” EPA anticipates the proposal will be 

available for public comment in spring 2013.

 What We Recommend 

We recommend that EPA establish a process to review pharmaceuticals for regulation 

as hazardous waste and develop an outreach and compliance assistance plan for 

health care facilities managing HWPs. 
 

 

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460 

THE INSPECTOR GENERAL 

May 25, 2012 

MEMORANDUM 

SUBJECT:	 EPA Inaction in Identifying Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals May Result in 

Unsafe Disposal 

Report No. 12-P-0508 

FROM:	 Arthur A. Elkins, Jr. 

TO:	 Mathy Stanislaus 

Assistant Administrator for Solid Waste and Emergency Response 

This is our report on the subject evaluation conducted by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) 

of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This report contains findings that describe 

the problems the OIG has identified and corrective actions the OIG recommends. This report 

represents the opinion of the OIG and does not necessarily represent the final EPA position. 

Final determinations on matters in this report will be made by EPA managers in accordance with 

established resolution procedures. 

Action Required 

In accordance with EPA Manual 2750, you are required to provide a written response to this 

report within 90 calendar days. The recommendations are listed as unresolved because planned 

completion dates were not provided. Your response should include a corrective action plan for 

agreed-upon actions, including actual or estimated milestone completion dates. Your response 

will be posted on the OIG’s public website, along with our comments on your response. Your 

response should be provided in an Adobe PDF file that complies with the accessibility 

requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. Please e-mail your 

response to Carolyn Copper at copper.carolyn@epa.gov. If your response contains data that you 

do not want to be released to the public, you should identify the data for redaction. We have no 

objections to the further release of this report to the public. 

If you or your staff have any questions regarding this report, please contact Carolyn Copper at 

(202) 566-0829 or copper.carolyn@epa.gov, or Steve Hanna at (415) 947-4527 or 

hanna.steve@epa.gov. 
 

 

 

 

 

EPA Inaction in Identifying Hazardous Waste 12-P-0508 

Pharmaceuticals May Result in Unsafe Disposal 

Table of Contents 

Chapters 

1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 1

 Purpose ....................................................................................................... 1 

Background ................................................................................................. 1 

Scope and Methodology.............................................................................. 5 

Prior Evaluation Coverage .......................................................................... 6 

2 EPA Has Not Used Its Authority to Assess and Manage 

Potential Hazards of Pharmaceutical Waste ................................................... 7
 

EPA Has Not Used Its Hazardous Waste Management Authority .............. 7 

Health Care Facilities May be Unaware of Their RCRA Obligations ........... 9 

EPA Is Developing a New Pharmaceutical Rulemaking .............................. 10 

Conclusion ................................................................................................... 11 

 Recommendations ...................................................................................... 11 

Agency Response and OIG Evaluation ....................................................... 11 

Status of Recommendations and Potential Monetary Benefits.............................. 13
 

Appendices 

A Pharmaceuticals Meeting Acute Hazardous Waste Criteria........................... 14 

B Agency Response to Draft Report and OIG Comment ................................... 15 

C Distribution ......................................................................................................... 30 
 

 

Chapter 1

Introduction 

Purpose 

The purpose of this review was to evaluate the U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency’s (EPA’s) process to identify and appropriately classify pharmaceuticals 

as hazardous waste and to ensure their safe disposal. We addressed the following 

questions: 

1.	 Do EPA’s hazardous waste codes appropriately classify pharmaceuticals 

as hazardous waste? 

2.	 What process has EPA established to identify and list new 

pharmaceuticals as hazardous waste? 

3.	 What steps have states taken to identify and regulate additional 

pharmaceuticals as hazardous waste? 

4.	 How will the Universal Waste Rule (UWR) impact the management of 

hazardous waste pharmaceuticals (HWPs)? What is the current status of 

the rule? 

Background 

The discovery of a variety of pharmaceuticals in surface, ground, and drinking 

waters around the country has raised concerns about the potentially adverse 

environmental consequences of these contaminants. Although the effects on 

humans are unknown, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports 

that some research has demonstrated the potential impact to human health from 

exposure to pharmaceuticals found in drinking water, such as antibiotics and those 

that interfere with human hormone development. In addition, minute 

concentrations of some pharmaceuticals can have detrimental effects on aquatic 

species, such as hormonal imbalances leading to feminization and reproductive 

problems in fish populations. Studies have suggested the detection of 

pharmaceutical compounds in treated wastewater effluent, streams, lakes, 

seawater, and groundwater, as well as in sediments and fish tissue. For example, 

during 1999 and 2000, the United States Geological Survey conducted a study of 

139 streams across the country and detected pharmaceutical compounds in 

80 percent of the streams sampled. 

In the 2008 proposed universal waste rule, EPA defines a pharmaceutical as any 

chemical product, vaccine, or allergenic, not containing a radioactive component, 

that is intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention 

of disease or injury in humans or animals. This definition also refers to any 

product with the primary purpose of dispensing or delivering a pharmaceutical. 

12-P-0508 1 
 

 

 

Pharmaceutical waste1 includes expired drugs, personal medications, waste 

materials containing excess drugs (syringes, IV bags, tubing, vials, etc.), and 

drugs that are intended to be discarded. Generators of hazardous waste 

pharmaceuticals (HWPs) include: pharmacies, physicians’ and dentists’ offices, 

outpatient care centers, ambulatory health care services, residential care facilities, 

veterinary clinics, and reverse distributors.2 Health care facilities may dispose of 

unused pharmaceuticals, especially residues, down the drain (e.g., intravenous 

(IV) bags emptied into the sink). According to EPA, for many years, a standard 

disposal practice at many health care facilities was to flush unused 

pharmaceuticals down the toilet or drain. Although the domestic sewage 

exclusion generally allows facilities to flush pharmaceuticals down the drain, 

EPA believes that facilities should not dispose of their pharmaceuticals down the 

drain. 

EPA Definition of Hazardous Waste 

Under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), EPA has the 

authority to regulate the generation, storage, transportation, treatment, and 

disposal of hazardous waste. Most states have been delegated the primary 

responsibility for regulating RCRA hazardous waste. Any facility, such as 

hospitals and other health facilities that generate more than 100 kg (220 lbs.) of 

hazardous waste per month, or greater than 1 kg (2.2 lbs.) of acute hazardous 

waste per month, are subject to RCRA hazardous waste regulations. RCRA 

requires that hazardous wastes be transported in approved containers to permitted 

hazardous waste disposal facilities by a hazardous waste transporter. RCRA 

prohibits disposal of hazardous waste in municipal waste landfills, municipal 

incinerators, or medical waste plants.3 

EPA’s RCRA regulations establish two ways of identifying hazardous waste: 

1.	 Characteristic hazardous waste – A waste may be considered hazardous if 

it exhibits one of the four defined characteristics of hazardous waste: 

a.	 Ignitability – wastes that can readily catch fire and maintain 

combustion. 

b.	 Corrosivity – wastes that are acidic or alkaline (basic). 

c.	 Reactivity – wastes that readily explode or undergo violent 

reactions or react by releasing toxic gases or fumes. 

d.	 Toxicity – wastes likely to leach dangerous concentrations of toxic 

chemicals into groundwater. 

1

 Under RCRA, EPA does not regulate pharmaceuticals until they are discarded as waste. 

2

 Reverse distributors are private companies that provide a service to the health care industry by keeping track of 

manufacturer unused pharmaceutical reimbursement policies, and thus get health care facilities credit for the 

pharmaceuticals prior to sending them off-site for disposal. 

3

 RCRA excludes hazardous waste generated by households from the definition of hazardous waste. 

12-P-0508 2 
 

 

 

2. Listed hazardous waste – EPA may also explicitly identify hazardous 

wastes through a listing process. Lists of hazardous waste developed by 

EPA are: 

a.	 F-list (wastes from non-specific sources) – hazardous wastes from 

certain common industrial and manufacturing processes. 

b.	 K-list (wastes from specific industries). 

c.	 P- and U- lists of chemicals – hazardous wastes including specific 

unused chemicals. Chemicals are included on the U-list based on 

toxicity or other characteristics. Chemicals are included on the 

P-list if they are acutely toxic. P-list chemicals are regulated when 

generated in lower quantities than U-list chemicals. 

P-listed wastes are identified as acute hazardous waste because the waste has been 

found to be fatal to humans or animals above certain thresholds/doses. EPA can 

regulate a waste as acutely hazardous if it has been shown in studies to have: 

 an oral Lethal Dose 504 toxicity for rats of less than 50 milligrams per 

kilogram, 

 an inhalation Lethal Concentration 50 toxicity for rats of less than 

2 milligrams per liter, or 

 a dermal Lethal Dose 50 toxicity for rabbits of less than 200 milligrams 

per kilogram 

EPA also can regulate a waste as acutely hazardous if it is capable of causing or 

significantly contributing to an increase in serious irreversible or incapacitating 

reversible illness. 

Pharmaceuticals can be included on the U-list if they exhibit any of the four 

hazardous characteristics described above, or if they contain a toxic constituent 

and are capable of posing a “substantial present or potential hazard to human 

health or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, or 

disposed of, or otherwise managed.” Toxic constituents identified by RCRA are 

chemical compounds or elements which scientific studies show to have toxic, 

carcinogenic (i.e., cancer-causing), mutagenic (i.e., causing genetic mutation 

which can lead to cancer), or teratogenic (i.e., causing birth defects) effects on 

humans or other life forms. 

Volume of Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals 

According to EPA, pharmaceuticals are commonly used for diagnosing, treating, 

or preventing an extremely broad range of medical problems and for cosmetic and 

lifestyle purposes. HWPs are generated by a large number of facilities from 

different sectors across the country. However, estimates of the volume of HWPs 

4

 The LD50 and LC50 value is a measure of acute toxicity, and indicates the ability of a toxic or poisonous 

substance to kill half the population in animal studies after a specified test duration. 

12-P-0508 3 
 

 

 

 

may be understated because of EPA’s failure to identify any new HWPs since 

1980. In addition, volumes may be understated because EPA believes that many 

health care facilities, such as hospitals, are unaware of their RCRA reporting 

obligations5

 for hazardous waste. Further, federal regulations require only large 

quantity generators to report their hazardous waste generation types and volumes 

to EPA. EPA estimates that hospitals and reverse distributors generate about 

15,000 tons of HWPs each year. We note that, by itself, volume is not the only 

meaningful measure of the potential HWP problem, as many pharmaceuticals are 

toxic at very low concentrations. 

EPA’s Best Management Practices Guidance for Pharmaceuticals 

EPA has taken some action to address concerns about possible effects on human 

health and the environment from the release of pharmaceuticals into the 

environment. In August 2010, EPA’s Office of Water issued a draft guidance 

document, Best Management Practices for Unused Pharmaceuticals at Health 

Care Facilities. As defined in this guidance, EPA’s goal is to keep 

pharmaceuticals out of U.S. waters. The guidance recommends best management 

practices (BMPs) to be used by health care facilities (e.g., hospitals) to minimize 

the release of pharmaceuticals to the environment. EPA identified these BMPs 

after: 

	 site visits at 12 health care facilities; 

	 consulting with over 700 stakeholders, including health care 

professionals, government entities, health care industry associations, and 

companies that manage unused pharmaceuticals; 

 review of disposal data from 20 hospitals and long-term care facilities 

(e.g., nursing homes, assisted living facilities); and 

 review of literature data, reports, and state recommendations. 

The guidance describes BMPs that EPA recommends to health care facilities, 

long-term care facilities, medical clinics, and doctors’ offices, when managing 

and disposing of unused pharmaceuticals. 

EPA’s 2008 Universal Waste Rule Amendment to Address Hazardous 

Waste Pharmaceuticals 

In December 2008, EPA proposed to add HWPs to the UWR6

. The UWR, 

originally issued on May 11, 1995, modified RCRA hazardous waste regulations 

by establishing a set of streamlined requirements for the collection of certain 

widely dispersed hazardous wastes, called ‘‘universal wastes.’’ According to 

5

 Hazardous waste generators producing more than 2,200 pounds of hazardous waste, or more than 2.2 pounds of 

acute hazardous waste, in a calendar month must report the waste type and volume to EPA every 2 years. The total 

volume of hazardous waste reported in 2009 was approximately 35 million tons. 

6

 Federal Register: December 2, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 232), Page 73519-73544, at 

http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-WASTE/2008/December/Day-02/f28161.htm. 

12-P-0508 4 
 

 

 

EPA, the proposed 2008 rule would facilitate better and environmentally sound 

management of pharmaceutical wastes by streamlining the generator requirements 

and encouraging generators of HWPs to manage them under the provisions of the 

UWR. EPA believed this would ensure that HWPs are properly disposed of and 

treated as hazardous wastes. In 2009, EPA summarized comments on the 

proposed rule. According to EPA, there was substantial negative comment on the 

proposed rule such that the Agency decided that it could not address the 

comments without re-proposing a new rule. EPA has recently stated that the 

Agency has decided to develop another proposal for health care facility-specific 

regulations for the management of hazardous waste pharmaceuticals. 

Other Federal Agency Hazardous Drug Lists 

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is the federal 

agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the 

prevention of work-related injury and illness. NIOSH publishes a List of 

Antineoplastic (e.g., chemotherapy) and Other Hazardous Drugs in Health Care 

Settings, also referred to as the NIOSH Drug Alert list, listing what it believes 

should be handled as hazardous materials. The Occupational Safety and Health 

Administration (OSHA) hazard communication standard requires facilities to 

identify hazardous drugs that must be handled using special precautions. OSHA 

developed a hazardous drug list in the early 1990s and it remains a primary 

reference for identifying drugs that should be handled as hazardous waste. OSHA 

lists 61 pharmaceuticals on its hazardous drug list and the latest version of the 

NIOSH list published in 2010 includes 157 drugs. 

Scope and Methodology 

We conducted our work from August 2011 to February 2012 in accordance with 

generally accepted government auditing standards. Those standards require that 

we plan and perform the evaluation to obtain sufficient, appropriate evidence to 

provide a reasonable basis for our findings and conclusions based on our 

objectives. We assessed whether EPA has a systematic process to identify and 

appropriately classify pharmaceuticals as hazardous waste and to ensure their safe 

disposal. We believe the evidence obtained provides a reasonable basis for our 

findings and conclusions based upon our objectives. 

We interviewed program and information technology staff of the EPA Office of 

Resource Conservation and Recovery (ORCR), scientists and program staff of the 

EPA Office of Research and Development, and staff of the EPA Region 9 

Waste Management Division Enforcement. We interviewed state environmental 

protection program staff from Minnesota, Washington, and California. 

In addition, we interviewed staff from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency’s 

Office of Diversion Control in Washington, DC; and the Director of 

PharmEcology, a Waste Management company. 

12-P-0508 5 
 

 

 

We reviewed EPA and state programs, regulations, and guidance documents 

related to HWPs, including EPA’s Proposed UWR and BMP guidance. We also 

reviewed the following documents to identify potential HWPs and toxicity data: 

 EPA P- and U-lists of hazardous waste.
 

 EPA Endocrine Disruptors list. 

 NIOSH Drug Alert list of hazardous pharmaceuticals. 

 OSHA Chemical list and Carcinogen list. 

Prior Evaluation Coverage 

The following Office of Inspector General (OIG) and GAO reports addressed 

issues related to the scope of our review: 

	 OIG Report No. 11-P-0215, EPA’s Endocrine Disruptor Screening 

Program Should Establish Management Controls to Ensure More Timely 

Results, May 3, 2011. 

	 GAO Report No. GAO-11-346, Environmental Health: Action Needed to 

Sustain Agencies’ Collaboration on Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water, 

August 8, 2011. 

12-P-0508 6 
 

 

 

 

Chapter 2

EPA Has Not Used Its Authority to Assess and 

Manage Potential Hazards of Pharmaceutical Waste 

Although EPA has the authority under RCRA, it has not added to its regulations 

pharmaceuticals that may qualify as hazardous waste since 1980. EPA also has 

not established a process for the regular identification and review of 

pharmaceuticals that may qualify for regulation. EPA believes many health care 

facilities flush HWPs down drains, a potentially harmful disposal method. In 

2008, EPA proposed an amendment to the UWR, in part to address health care 

facilities’ unfamiliarity or confusion with RCRA requirements. However, the rule 

has been stalled since 2009 and EPA just recently decided it would develop 

another proposal for healthcare facility-specific regulations for the management 

of HWPs. Given the proliferation of pharmaceutical development since RCRA 

was enacted, EPA inaction on adding to its regulations pharmaceuticals that 

qualify as hazardous waste may result in unsafe disposal and releases of 

dangerous pharmaceuticals into the environment. 

EPA Has Not Used Its Hazardous Waste Management Authority 

In 1980, EPA identified approximately 31 chemicals used as pharmaceuticals that 

met the RCRA hazardous waste criteria but EPA has not updated its list since that 

time. Moreover, EPA has not established a process for the regular identification 

and review of pharmaceuticals that may qualify for regulation as HWPs. The 

Food and Drug Administration has approved an average of 30 new drugs each 

year since 1996. Consequently, RCRA hazardous waste regulations are not 

keeping up with drug development and the potential hazards they may pose if 

mismanaged and disposed without the necessary protections to human health and 

the environment. Without an established process to review pharmaceuticals, EPA 

cannot ensure that it has identified pharmaceutical contaminants that may pose a 

hazardous risk to human health and the environment. 

Many More Drugs Than EPA Has Identified May Be Hazardous 

There are more than 100 drugs that NIOSH and OSHA have identified as 

hazardous but may not have been reviewed by EPA to determine if they qualify 

for hazardous waste regulation. We reviewed both lists and identified eight 

chemicals from the NIOSH list of hazardous pharmaceuticals that meet EPA 

criteria for regulation as acute hazardous waste, but are not regulated.7

 We also 

identified three U-list pharmaceuticals that meet P-list criteria based on rat oral 

LD50 values.7

 Further, we identified at least 21 additional pharmaceuticals with 

7

 See appendix A for additional details. 

12-P-0508 7 
 

 

 

 

LD50 values between 50 and 500 mg/kg, which are within the range of values 

found for existing U-list pharmaceuticals.8 

According to EPA’s 2010 draft guidance, Best Management Practices for Unused 

Pharmaceuticals at Health Care Facilities, many health care facilities, such as 

hospitals, use the NIOSH list of hazardous materials to identify unused 

pharmaceuticals that should be handled similarly to hazardous waste as defined 

under RCRA. The draft guidance further states that, although RCRA does not 

require facilities to manage NIOSH-listed hazardous materials the same as RCRA 

hazardous waste, EPA recommends RCRA guidelines as a BMP for managing 

NIOSH-listed hazardous materials. Drugs considered hazardous by the NIOSH 

definition include those that exhibit characteristics in humans or animals, such as 

carcinogenicity (cancer-causing), reproductive toxicity, organ toxicity at low 

doses; and structure and toxicity profiles of new drugs that mimic existing drugs 

determined hazardous by the above criteria. There are 157 drugs identified on the 

NIOSH Drug Alert list that NIOSH recommends handling as hazardous materials 

to avoid occupational exposure. These include chemotherapy drugs, hormones 

(e.g., estrogens), and antibiotics. 

In comments to EPA on EPA’s August 2010 guidance document, Best 

Management Practices for Unused Pharmaceuticals at Health Care Facilities, the 

state of Minnesota noted that because EPA has not reviewed any pharmaceuticals 

for regulation as hazardous waste since the promulgation of RCRA regulations 

(i.e., 1980), some dangerous pharmaceuticals are not subject to more rigorous 

regulation as hazardous or acute hazardous waste. Specifically, the state said: 

The proliferation of pharmaceutical development since the 

promulgation of RCRA regulations, coupled with the absence of 

any updates to the U- or P-lists, results in some extremely 

dangerous pharmaceutical waste (e.g., chemotherapeutic drugs) not 

being listed or characteristic once fully evaluated, while other 

pharmaceutical waste (e.g., warfarin and nicotine) that is much less 

hazardous in finished drug form is regulated as acutely toxic waste. 

The fact that there is still no federal mandatory waste management 

regulation for most chemotherapy drugs is alarming. Encouraging 

health care facilities to manage NIOSH hazardous drugs as 

hazardous waste does not adequately address the danger. 

In addition, in its comments on EPA’s 2008 UWR amendment, the state of 

Minnesota also reflects the problem with not having a regular process to evaluate 

pharmaceuticals for hazardous waste regulation. Specifically, the state said: 

The P-List of hazardous waste is out-of-date to the extent that it is 

largely irrelevant with regard to currently used pharmaceuticals 

8

 This potentially defines possible candidate U-list pharmaceuticals. U-listing requires additional justification 

beyond an LD50 value. 

12-P-0508 8 
 

 

 

and hence currently generated pharmaceutical waste. Many of the 

hazardous pharmaceuticals that are listed on either the P-List or 

U-List are no longer in common use. At the same time, a plethora 

of new, more toxic pharmaceuticals are not listed at all, despite the 

fact that they are being generated in a wide variety of health care 

facilities. 

Health Care Facilities May be Unaware of Their RCRA Obligations 

EPA has learned, from its communication with stakeholders, and stated in its costbenefit analysis of the 2008 Universal Waste proposed rule, that “many healthcare 

facilities have been unable to comply with the RCRA hazardous waste regulations 

as they relate to hazardous pharmaceutical wastes and often manage these wastes 

improperly.”9 According to EPA, health care workers, retail pharmacy employees, 

and other pharmaceutical generators are often unfamiliar with or confused by 

RCRA hazardous waste management requirements, prompting them to 

improperly dispose of hazardous pharmaceuticals as municipal or bulk wastes. 

Outreach and enforcement efforts undertaken in Minnesota and Washington have 

indicated that confusion and a lack of awareness exist among health care 

facilities, such as hospitals, regarding the applicability of RCRA regulations to 

their pharmaceutical wastes. EPA also acknowledges that many health carerelated facilities are unaware of their RCRA obligations, or, even if there is 

knowledge of RCRA, they have problems training workers to properly manage 

hazardous wastes. ORCR staff informed us that they could implement outreach 

activities to assist with education and compliance. However, at this time, EPA 

does not have a comprehensive outreach and compliance assistance plan for 

HWPs that states can use to improve RCRA compliance. 

Improper Management of Pharmaceuticals in Health Care Facilities 

State environmental agencies in Minnesota and Washington have conducted 

outreach and enforcement activities in response to confusion and unfamiliarity 

among the health care industry about RCRA rules for HWPs. For example, the 

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency developed a Health Care Initiative in 2002 

to address widespread noncompliance with RCRA regulations. They began with 

an outreach program that provided training to the health care industry, followed 

by inspections and enforcement. From 2004 to 2007, they identified 2 million 

pounds of pharmaceuticals that had been properly managed as a result of 

compliance and enforcement activities. The Washington Department of Ecology 

created enforcement guidance and conducted outreach activities to educate 

hospitals about proper disposal of pharmaceutical wastes. These outreach efforts 

were in response to hospitals’ requests for clarification on how to identify and 

manage HWPs, particularly controlled substances. 

9

 Assessment of the Potential Costs, Benefits, and Other Impacts of Adding Pharmaceuticals to the Universal Waste 

Rule, as Proposed. EPA-HQ-RCRA-2007-0932-0010, October 2008, page 1. 

12-P-0508 9 
 

 

In addition, EPA Regions 1 and 2 have increased enforcement activities related to 

improper disposal of hazardous pharmaceuticals. In 2004, Region 1 notified 

250 hospitals in New England of its intention to enforce hazardous waste laws for 

health care facilities. In 2003 and 2004, Region 2 identified violations at health 

care facilities, leading to fines ranging from $40,000 to $280,000. In 2010, five 

hospitals and nursing homes were cited by the New York Attorney General for 

failure to properly identify, track, and dispose of pharmaceuticals and other 

wastes defined as hazardous waste under RCRA. 

EPA Is Developing a New Pharmaceutical Rulemaking 

In 2008, EPA proposed an amendment to its 1995 UWR to provide a system for 

disposing HWPs that is protective of public health and the environment. The 

proposed rule was aimed at streamlining the current regulations governing HWPs 

to ensure that larger quantities of these wastes are managed properly. By March 

2009, EPA staff stated they had received approximately 100 stakeholder 

comments on the rule. Stakeholders commenting on the proposal expressed 

concerns over the lack of notification and tracking requirements for facilities that 

handle and transport universal pharmaceutical wastes. According to EPA, 

generators of HWPs also have expressed concerns related to making hazardous 

waste determinations, changes in generator status resulting from generation of 

acutely hazardous waste, regulation of additional pharmaceuticals as RCRA 

hazardous waste, and accumulation time limits. 

Shortly after receiving and reviewing public comments in 2009, EPA determined 

that the 2008 UW proposal could not be used as a basis for a final rule that would 

address commenters’ concerns. In the response to the draft report (see Appendix 

B) ORCR staff said that in the fall of 2010, they began developing a new proposal 

for the health care industry for managing hazardous waste pharmaceuticals. 

ORCR staff further stated that in September of 2011 the Agency completed Early 

Guidance, the first of three major milestones in its rule development process, and 

completed Option Selection, the second milestone, in April of 2012. They 

acknowledged that there are issues not properly addressed within the current 

version of the proposed rule and are working to identify areas that need to be 

addressed in the future version of the rule. Until a rule is finalized, concerns 

raised by pharmaceutical waste generators related to identification and 

management of hazardous pharmaceuticals, generator status, and accumulation 

time limits remain unresolved. EPA has recently stated on its UWR website that 

“the Agency has decided to develop another proposal for health care facilityspecific regulations for the management of hazardous pharmaceutical wastes in 

order to provide a regulatory scheme that addresses the unique issues that 

hospitals, pharmacies and other health care-related facilities face. It is anticipated 

that the proposal will be available for public comment in Spring 2013.” EPA has 

also included updated information on the UWR status in the EPA Fall 2011 

Regulatory Agenda. 

12-P-0508 10 
 

 

Conclusion 

For more than 30 years, EPA has not used its RCRA authority to determine 

whether pharmaceuticals may qualify as hazardous waste. This may mean some 

drugs are disposed and managed in ways that are not safe for humans and the 

environment. EPA’s belief that there is widespread noncompliance in the health 

care industry with RCRA hazardous waste regulations further compounds the 

potential risks to human health and the environment from unregulated HWPs. In 

addition, the idle status of EPA’s rule to improve management of HWPs, coupled 

with its primary reliance on “best management practices” to ensure human health 

and environmental protection, represent small steps in an environment where 

hundreds of pharmaceutical products are widely used throughout the nation. 

EPA has recently published its intent to develop another proposal to address the 

management of pharmaceutical wastes at health care facilities. Over 100 drugs 

have been identified by other federal agencies as hazardous pharmaceuticals, 

whereas EPA has identified 31 hazardous pharmaceutical compounds. If EPA’s 

hazardous waste rules do not keep up with new drug development or ensure that 

regulated entities understand and comply with their obligations, uncertainties 

about human health and environmental risks from hazardous pharmaceuticals are 

likely to grow. 

Recommendations 

We recommend the Assistant Administrator for Solid Waste and Emergency 

Response: 

1.	 Identify and review existing pharmaceuticals to determine 

whether they qualify for regulation as hazardous waste. 

2.	 Establish a process to review new pharmaceuticals to 

determine whether they qualify for regulation as hazardous 

waste. 

3.	 Develop a nationally consistent outreach and compliance 

assistance plan to help states address challenges that health 

care facilities, and others as needed, have in complying with 

RCRA regulations for managing HWPs. 

Agency Response and OIG Evaluation 

We reviewed the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response’s (OSWER’s) 

comments and made changes to the report as appropriate. Appendix B provides 

the full text of OSWER’s response and the OIG’s comments. 

12-P-0508 11 
 

 

OSWER does not clearly agree or disagree with recommendations 1 and 2, and 

agrees with recommendation 3. In its response to recommendation 1, OSWER 

agrees that pharmaceuticals are a category of chemicals that need attention and 

stated that it has recently completed a research effort to identify and evaluate new 

and existing pharmaceuticals for potential addition to the lists of regulated 

hazardous wastes. In its response to recommendation 2, OSWER states that it will 

consider the next steps it can take when it completes actions on recommendation 1. 

OSWER acknowledges that the next steps could include activities consistent with 

OIG recommendation 2. We will continue to recommend that EPA adopt a process 

to review new pharmaceuticals to determine whether they qualify for regulation as 

hazardous waste, because listing of hazardous waste is integral to the RCRA 

program. 

All recommendations are listed as unresolved. In its 90-day response to this 

report, EPA should indicate agreement or disagreement with recommendations 1 

and 2 and include a detailed corrective action plan with estimated milestone dates 

for all recommendations. 

12-P-0508 12 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Status of Recommendations and 

Potential Monetary Benefits 

POTENTIAL MONETARY 

RECOMMENDATIONS BENEFITS (in $000s) 

Rec. 

No. 

Page 

No. Subject Status1 Action Official 

Planned 

Completion 

Date 

Claimed 

Amount 

Agreed-To 

Amount 

1 

2 

3 

11 

11 

11 

Identify and review existing pharmaceuticals to 

determine whether they qualify for regulation as 

hazardous waste. 

Establish a process to review new pharmaceuticals 

to determine whether they qualify for regulation as 

hazardous waste. 

Develop a nationally consistent outreach and 

compliance assistance plan to help states address 

challenges that health care facilities, and others as 

needed, have in complying with RCRA regulations 

for managing HWPs. 

U 

U 

U 

Assistant Administrator 

for Solid Waste and 

Emergency Response 

Assistant Administrator 

for Solid Waste and 

Emergency Response 

Assistant Administrator 

for Solid Waste and 

Emergency Response 

O = recommendation is open with agreed-to corrective actions pending 

C = recommendation is closed with all agreed-to actions completed 

U = recommendation is unresolved with resolution efforts in progress 

12-P-0508 13 

1 
 

 

 

 

 

Appendix A 

Pharmaceuticals Meeting 

Acute Hazardous Waste Criteria 

Pharmaceutical P/U code Rat Oral LD50 (mg/kg) 

NIOSH-listed hazardous pharmaceuticals not listed as EPA hazardous waste 

Carmustine None 20 

Cisplatin None 25.8 

Colchicine None 26 

Dactinomycin None 7.2 

Mechlorethamine None 10 

Oxytocin None 20.52 

Thiotepa None 23 

Vinorelbine tartrate None 26 

P-listed RCRA hazardous waste pharmaceuticals 

Arsenic trioxide P012 14.6 

Epinephrine P042 30 

Nicotine P075 50 

Nitroglycerin P081 105 

Phentermine P046 Rat oral LD50 not found 

Physostigmine P204 4.5 

Physostigmine 

salicylate P188 Rat oral LD50 Not found 

Warfarin >0.3% P001 1.6 

U-listed RCRA hazardous waste pharmaceuticals with P-level LD50 values 

Melphalan U150 11.2 

Mitomycin C U010 30 

Uracil mustard U237 3.55 

Source: OIG analysis. Rat oral LD50 values were obtained from toxicity data at the National Library 

of Medicine ChemIDPlus Advanced website. The value for Vinorelbine tartrate was obtained from 

an Internet Material Safety Data Sheet, and Colchicine was obtained from a Food and Drug 

Administration abstract. The NIOSH chemicals listed are those we could identify that meet EPA’s 

criteria for regulation as acute hazardous waste but are not regulated. 

12-P-0508 14 
 

 

 

Appendix B 

Agency Response to Draft Report 

and OIG Comment 

MEMORANDUM
 

SUBJECT: Response to the Office of Inspector General Draft Audit Report, EPA 

Inaction in Identifying Hazardous Pharmaceutical Waste May Result in 

Unsafe Disposal 

FROM: Mathy Stanislaus 

Assistant Administrator 

TO: Elizabeth Grossman 

Acting Assistant Inspector General for Program Evaluation 

Office of Inspector General 

Thank you for the opportunity to review and respond to the Office of Inspector General 

(OIG) draft audit report, EPA Inaction in Identifying Hazardous Pharmaceutical Waste May 

Result in Unsafe Disposal. The purpose of this memorandum is to transmit the Office of Solid 

Waste and Emergency Response’s (OSWER) response to the OIG draft report and its 

recommendations. This memorandum addresses the report’s recommendations; Attachment 1 

provides detailed comments on the report. 

Before responding to the recommendations, however, I would like to provide some 

background on the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous waste 

identification regulations. This serves as context for the issue that you have raised on 

pharmaceuticals. The basic RCRA waste identification regulations were first established in 1980. 

Major revisions were made in response to the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments (HSWA) 

of 1984. We added additional listings of hazardous wastes required under HSWA for wastes 

from specific sources; the final listing was completed in 2005. In 1990 we revised the Toxicity 

Characteristic, also in response to a HSWA directive. Since that time, new technologies, such as 

nanotechnology and biotechnology, and new and modified organic and inorganic chemicals are 

constantly being developed, generating new wastes that may pose risks when disposed of. 

Resources to evaluate new waste streams and regulate them appropriately are increasingly 

limited. Within these limitations, however, we are working to address those that most need 

attention. 

12-P-0508 15 
 

 

 

OIG RECOMMENDATIONS AND OSWER RESPONSES 

OIG Recommendation 1: Identify and review existing pharmaceuticals to determine whether 

they qualify for regulation as hazardous waste. 

OSWER Response 1: 

OSWER agrees that pharmaceuticals are a category of chemicals that need attention and 

has recently completed a research effort to identify and evaluate new and existing 

pharmaceuticals for potential addition to the lists of regulated hazardous wastes. 

To make the best use of our very limited resources, we have prioritized our work in a 

number of ways. First, we focused on pharmaceuticals that had been identified as chemicals of 

concern in processes designed to identify pharmaceuticals of high risk already conducted by 

other federal agencies. We used lists developed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety 

and Health (NIOSH) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).10 Second, 

we gathered readily available existing toxicological information about these pharmaceuticals. 

Third, we compared the existing available information to the defined regulatory standard for 

identifying acutely hazardous waste. The work that we conducted and the results we found were 

similar to the research recently done by your staff as part of your investigation and presented in 

the Appendix to your report. 

OSWER is now reviewing the results of this project and deciding on next steps that could 

be completed within available resources to address identified potential risks from disposal of 

pharmaceuticals. (See Attachment for further discussion regarding the listing of hazardous waste 

pharmaceuticals.) Possible next steps range from taking no action to potential regulatory 

considerations. We caution that, due to limited resources, the work we have conducted is narrow 

in scope and has a number of limitations. As we evaluate next steps, we will consider whether 

and how these limitations could be addressed with available resources. 

OIG Response: OSWER does not clearly agree or disagree with this recommendation. 

However, OSWER agrees that pharmaceuticals are a category of chemicals that need attention 

and stated that it has recently completed a research effort to identify and evaluate new and 

existing pharmaceuticals for potential addition to the lists of regulated hazardous wastes. In its 

90-day response to the final report, OSWER should agree or disagree with the recommendation, 

and, as appropriate, provide actual or estimated milestone completion dates for actions to 

respond to this recommendation. In addition OSWER should provide a complete description of 

its corrective action plan for this recommendation. This recommendation will be designated as 

unresolved in the final report. 

OIG Recommendation 2: Establish a process to review new pharmaceuticals to determine 

whether they qualify for regulation as hazardous waste. 

10 NIOSH List of Antineoplastic and Other Hazardous Drugs in Healthcare Settings 2010 (157 drugs) and OSHA 

Technical Manual, Section VI, Chapter 2, Appendix VI:2-1 Some Common Drugs Considered Hazardous (61 

drugs). 

12-P-0508 16 
 

 

 

OSWER Response 2: 

As part of OSWER’s decision on next steps as discussed in Response 1, we will consider 

the appropriate next steps to take given significant resource constraints and competing priorities. 

The next steps to be considered could include a process to review newly developed 

pharmaceuticals. 

OIG Response: OSWER’s response to recommendation 2 is linked to its response on 

recommendation 1, which OSWER does not clearly agree or disagree with. OSWER states that it 

will consider the next steps it can take when it completes actions on recommendation 1. OSWER 

acknowledges that the next steps could include activities consistent with OIG recommendation 2. 

We continue to recommend that EPA adopt a process to review new pharmaceuticals to 

determine whether they qualify for regulation as hazardous waste, because listing of hazardous 

waste is integral to the RCRA program. As stated in EPA’s RCRA Orientation Manual, “Proper 

hazardous waste identification is essential to the success of the RCRA program.” This 

recommendation will be designated as unresolved in the final report. In its 90-day response to the 

report, EPA should indicate agreement or disagreement with recommendation 2, and, as 

appropriate, provide estimated milestone completion dates for agreed-to corrective actions along 

with a description of the corrective action plan. 

OIG Recommendation 3: Develop a nationally consistent outreach and compliance assistance 

plan to help states address challenges health care facilities, and others as needed, have in 

complying with RCRA regulations for managing HPWs.11 

OSWER Response 3: 

OSWER agrees with the recommendation. Our response includes three planned phases: 1) 

continue ongoing outreach and compliance assistance for the current regulations; 2) propose 

revisions to RCRA regulations to more effectively address hazardous waste pharmaceuticals in 

the health care sector; and 3) as we do for all new rules, develop a communications plan detailing 

outreach efforts to implement the new regulations. 

	 Phase 1: We note that OSWER and the Office of Enforcement and Compliance 

Assurance (OECA) have already done a great deal of work to assist states and the 

regulated community with implementation of and compliance with the current RCRA 

regulations for hazardous waste pharmaceuticals. Examples are listed below. Within 

available resources, we will continue these kinds of outreach and compliance assistance 

efforts for the current regulations. 

1.	 Healthcare Environmental Resource Center (HERC) - HERC provides 

compliance assistance and pollution prevention information to the healthcare 

sector. It is funded by OECA's Office of Compliance, managed by the Office of 

Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, and OSWER provides technical 

expertise on RCRA. HERC offers compliance assistance to healthcare facilities 

11 Hazardous pharmaceutical waste. 

12-P-0508 17 
 

 

and veterinarians, and a center devoted to dentists is currently being developed. 

(http://www.hercenter.org) 

2.	 "Managing Pharmaceutical Waste: A 10-Step Blueprint for Healthcare Facilities 

in the United States" (The Blueprint) - The Blueprint provides hospitals a step-bystep guide for developing and implementing a comprehensive pharmaceutical 

waste management program. While the most recent version (revised August 2008) 

was funded by HERC, the original Blueprint (April 2006) was funded by OSWER 

and managed by EPA Region 1. The Office of Resource Conservation and 

Recovery Staff (ORCR) staff reviewed and provided comments on both versions. 

(http://practicegreenhealth.org/sites/default/files/uploadfiles/pharmwasteblueprint.pdf) 

3.	 Development of healthcare-specific memoranda: Through guidance memoranda, 

OSWER has addressed various healthcare-specific pharmaceutical waste issues 

that have been raised by the regulated community. For example, most recently, in 

November 2011,ORCR issued guidance for managing containers that held Plisted pharmaceuticals, most commonly warfarin and nicotine. The guidance 

outlined several approaches generators may be able to use to address this issue. In 

particular, the EPA pointed out that only the weight of the residue in the container 

counts towards the generator status and that the container itself is not a hazardous 

waste. This guidance has been very well received by the industry. 

4.	 Outreach: OSWER maintains close communication with stakeholders on these 

issues and has made numerous presentations on pharmaceutical waste issues, 

including updates on the pharmaceutical rulemaking, at conferences and webinars 

hosted by the regulated community and by EPA. 

	 Phase 2: As noted in your report, we are in the process of developing major revisions to 

the hazardous waste regulations to make them more effective for the health care sector 

and the hazardous waste pharmaceuticals they generate. This step will help states with 

implementation and the regulated community with compliance with the RCRA 

regulations for hazardous waste pharmaceuticals. Our current plans anticipate publication 

of a proposed rule in March 2013. 

	 Phase 3: As we do for all new rules, as we complete the revisions to the regulations, 

OSWER will develop a communications plan detailing outreach steps to assist states with 

adoption and implementation of the new regulations and to assist the regulated 

community with learning about and coming into compliance with the new regulations. 

OIG Response: OSWER agrees with recommendation 3. OSWER is taking steps to 

communicate with health care facilities to assist compliance with RCRA regulations for 

managing HWPs. The activities described meet the intent of the recommendation. However, 

because estimated or actual milestone dates were not included, this recommendation will be 

listed as unresolved in the final report. In its 90-day response to the report, EPA should provide 

estimated or actual completion dates for the milestones. 

12-P-0508 18 
 

 

 

OSWER welcomes the opportunity to continue working with OIG to implement these 

recommendations and to strengthen its hazardous waste identification program. If you have any 

questions, please contact Suzanne Rudzinski, in the Office of Resource Conservation and 

Recovery, at (703) 308-8895. 

Attachment 

12-P-0508 19 
 

 

 

ATTACHMENT 

EPA Comments on OIG February 29, 2012 Draft Report EPA Inaction in Identifying

 Hazardous Pharmaceutical Waste May Result in Unsafe Disposal
 

GENERAL COMMENT REGARDING HAZARDOUS WASTE IDENTIFICATION 

The report does not appear to fully appreciate the complexities of listing a chemical as a commercial 

chemical product. The report says (page 3): 

P and U lists of chemicals – hazardous wastes including specific unused chemicals. Chemicals are 

included on the U list based on toxicity and characteristics. Chemicals are included on the P list if 

they are acutely toxic. P list chemicals are managed more stringently than U list chemicals. 

The report correctly cites the criteria for listing chemicals as P-listed waste. However, the description for Ulisted chemicals is much too simplified and does not fully delineate the process for listing a chemical on the 

U-list. The report states (pages 3 and 7 - 8): 

Pharmaceuticals can be included on the U list if they exhibit any of the hazardous characteristics 

described above, or if they contain a toxic constituent and are capable of posing a “substantial 

present or potential hazard to human health or the environment when improperly treated, stored, 

transported, or disposed of, or otherwise managed.” 

Further, we identified at least 21 additional pharmaceuticals with LD50 values between 50 and 500 

mg/kg, which are within the range of values found for existing U-list pharmaceuticals.8 

8 This potentially defines possible candidate U-list pharmaceuticals. U-listing requires additional 

justification beyond an LD50 value. 

In fact, the process for listing chemicals on the U-list is not a matter of simply comparing LD50 values. 

Therefore, the results provided in the report using such a comparison are not meaningful. As the report 

itself noted (page 3), unless a pharmaceutical exhibits any of the hazardous characteristics, listing a 

chemical on the U-list requires that the Agency demonstrate that the chemical poses a “substantial present 

or potential hazard to human health or the environment” when improperly managed. The regulations for this 

listing approach are set out in 40 CFR 261.11(a)(3). These regulations specify a number of factors that 

must be considered, including: 

 the toxicity and concentrations of the hazardous constituents in the waste, 

 the quantity of the waste generated, 

 the potential for the constituents to migrate, persist, and bioaccumulate in the environment, 

 any cases of environmental damage from improper management, and 

 plausible types of management of the waste. 

For all recent listings, EPA has used risk assessment tools to assess potential risks from waste 

management to encompass most of these factors. Furthermore, whether a waste is listed or not depends to 

a great degree on how the waste is being managed. That is, the waste must present a “substantial” hazard 

12-P-0508 20 
 

 

 

based on “plausible” management practices. Therefore, while the inherent toxicity of a chemical in a waste 

is important, the other factors in 261.11(a)(3) must be considered in evaluating a chemical for listing as a 

U-list hazardous waste. This type of assessment requires a large amount of information about a waste, and 

listing a waste using these criteria requires a significant effort and resources. 

OIG Response: The OIG acknowledges the potential complexity beyond LD50 values for 

U-listed waste. The report specifically states criteria for U-listing in EPA Definition of 

Hazardous Waste Chapter 1 pages 2-3, and also states in Chapter 2 footnote 8 page 8 that Ulisting requires additional justification. 

SPECIFIC COMMENTS 

Entire report: 

1.	 When referring to wastes that are currently identified by RCRA regulation as hazardous waste, 

recommend using the term “Hazardous Waste Pharmaceutical” (HWP) instead of “Hazardous 

Pharmaceutical Waste” (HPW). Because “hazardous waste” is a specific regulatory phrase, it is 

clearer to use it directly in the term. Also recommend using another term, such as “non-regulated 

pharmaceutical waste” for discarded pharmaceuticals that may be of concern, but are not currently 

regulated under RCRA. This would clarify whether the text is referring to RCRA-regulated or nonregulated pharmaceutical wastes. 

OIG Response: The term “Hazardous Pharmaceutical Waste (HPW)” has been changed in the 

report to “Hazardous Waste Pharmaceutical (HWP)” as requested by OSWER. We note that this 

represents a recent change, as HPW was used in prior EPA publications such as the 2008 

proposed universal waste rule and the 2010 draft Guidance Document: Best Management 

Practices for Unused Pharmaceuticals at Health Care Facilities. HWP was most recently used 

in OSWER’s Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals published in the 

Fall 2011 Regulatory Agenda. However, we note that OSWER continues to use the term 

“hazardous pharmaceutical wastes” in recent updates to its UWR website. We suggest that 

OSWER consistently use “hazardous waste pharmaceuticals” in all future publications. The 

report uses “unregulated HWP” to refer to pharmaceutical wastes not currently regulated by 

RCRA, instead of “non-regulated pharmaceutical waste.” 

2.	 Recommend using the term “active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs)” when discussing chemicals 

in the environment since environmental analysis tests for individual APIs. 

OIG Response: This change will not be incorporated, as it would add unneeded complexity to 

the terminology of the report. 

12-P-0508 21 
 

 

At a Glance: 

3.	 Background, left-hand column, 2nd sentence: Add drinking water to the list of types of water where 

APIs are found. 

OIG Response: “Drinking water” added as suggested. 

4.	 Background, left-hand column: When discussing APIs in water it is important to note that: 1) While 

improper disposal of drugs contributes to the presence of APIs in our nation’s waters, other 

contributions include excretion and pass-through from POTWs; and 2) Available studies identify 

very few APIs in water that are regulated hazardous wastes. 

OIG Response: This point will not be added to the Background in the At a Glance section. The 

additional level of detail is not appropriate for this section, which is intended to provide a 

snapshot of what the report is about. 

5.	 “What We Found,” 1st paragraph, 5th sentence: For accuracy, revise to read “We identified eight 

chemicals found in pharmaceuticals that meet EPA’s criteria for regulation as acute hazardous 

waste but wastes containing these chemicals are not regulated, unless they exhibit a 

characteristic.” 

OIG Response: The important point in this statement is that these pharmaceuticals have not 

been specifically identified by EPA for regulation as acute hazardous waste even though they 

meet the toxicity criteria. “As such” added to the end of the sentence for clarification. 

6.	 “What We Found,” 1st paragraph, 6th sentence: For accuracy, revise to read “There are over 100 

drugs that federal occupational safety organizations have identified as hazardous but have only 

recently been reviewed by EPA to determine whether they may qualify as hazardous waste. As a 

result of comments received on the proposed rule for pharmaceutical wastes, EPA started an 

examination of the lists from OSHA and NIOSH for potential candidates for listing as commercial 

chemical products. EPA found that relatively few of them would meet the criteria for listing as acute 

hazardous waste under the commercial chemical product listings (40 CFR 261.33(e)), similar 

results to those found by the OIG in its work for this study.” 

OIG Response: No change was made because the referenced sentence is accurate as written. 

A new sentence was added to acknowledge EPA’s stated efforts: “EPA staff stated they have 

started examining these drugs for listing as hazardous waste.” 

7.	 “What We Found,” 2nd paragraph, 3rd sentence: Delete and replace with “This may result in 

mismanagement of hazardous waste pharmaceuticals.” Note: RCRA regulations generally allow 

drain disposal of HW. The domestic sewage exclusion of 40 CFR 261.4(a)(1)(ii) is designed to 

avoid duplicative regulation under the Clean Water Act and RCRA and thus defers coverage of 

domestic sewage to the Clean Water Act regulations. 

12-P-0508 22 
 

 

OIG Response: Sentence changed as suggested. 

8.	 “What We Found,” 3rd paragraph: Delete 2nd sentence. 

OIG Response: No change was made. The sentence states that no action has occurred on the 

2008 UWR since 2009. EPA states in the Fall 2011 Regulatory Agenda, “...EPA is considering 

re-proposing healthcare facility-specific regulations for the management of hazardous 

pharmaceutical wastes...,” but no specific action has yet been taken. 

9.	 “What We Found,” 3rd paragraph, 3rd sentence: For accuracy, revise to read “EPA staff informed us 

that, due to substantial negative public comments received on the 2008 universal waste proposal, 

the Agency is developing a revised proposal for regulation of hazardous waste pharmaceuticals at 

healthcare facilities.” 

OIG Response: Sentence modified to incorporate this comment. 

Table of Contents: 

10. Suggest including the word “findings” in the title of Chapter 2 for clarity. 

OIG Response: No change was made. This is an editorial comment and it is our opinion that the 

title is an appropriate description of the contents of the chapter. 

Chapter 1: 

11. Page 1, Background, 2nd sentence: Add a clarifying footnote at the end of the sentence to read 

“Note: very few, if any antibiotics and endocrine disrupters are HWP. In addition, they do not meet 

the current hazardous waste listing/characteristic criteria.” 

OIG Response: No change was made. This statement in the report is an accurate summary of 

statements in the GAO report, Environmental Health: Action Needed to Sustain Agencies’ 

Collaboration on Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water, August 2011. Further, EPA provides no 

evidence for the statement that “few, if any antibiotics and endocrine disrupters are HWP.” 

12. Page 1, Background, 3rd and 4th sentences: Recommend providing references to sources for 

information presented about detrimental effects of pharmaceuticals on aquatic species, etc. 

OIG Response: These statements are based on information in the EPA Health Services Industry 

Study Management and Disposal of Unused Pharmaceuticals (Interim Technical Report) August 

2008; and the GAO report, Action Needed to Sustain Agencies’ Collaboration on 

Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water, August 2011. 

13. Page 1, Background, 2nd paragraph, 1st sentence: Replace definition of pharmaceutical, or explain 

the source of this definition. At this time, EPA does not have a formal definition of pharmaceutical. 

EPA proposed a regulatory definition of pharmaceutical in the 2008 proposal, but since the rule 

12-P-0508 23 
 

 

was not finalized, that definition is not in place. FDA may have a definition that would serve the 

purpose. 

OIG Response: This definition is from the 2008 proposal. “In the 2008 proposed universal 

waste rule,” added for clarity. 

14. Page 1-2, Background, last sentence: For clarity, revise to read “A Pharmaceutical becomes a 

waste when a decision is made to dispose of it. This can include unused but expired drugs (e.g., 

personal medications) and waste materials containing excess drugs, such as syringes, IV bags, 

tubing, vials, etc.” 

OIG Response: No change was made. Footnote 1 specifies that EPA does not regulate 

pharmaceuticals until they are discarded as waste, which is when a decision is made to dispose of 

them. 

15. Page 1, Footnote 1: Revise to read “Under RCRA, EPA can not regulate pharmaceuticals until a 

decision is made to dispose of it.” 

OIG Response: No change was made. Footnote 1 specifies that EPA does not regulate 

pharmaceuticals until they are discarded as waste, which is when a decision is made to dispose of 

them. 

16. Page 2, Footnote 2: To incorporate information provided by public commenters on the 2008 

proposed rule, revise to read “Reverse distributors are private companies that provide a service to 

the health care industry by determining credit eligibility on returned pharmaceuticals and by 

facilitating the receipt of proper credit.” 

OIG Response: The definition of distributors was taken directly from the 2010 EPA draft 

Guidance Document: Best Management Practices for Unused Pharmaceuticals at Health Care 

Facilities. 

17. Page 2, Background, Last sentence: For accuracy, revise to read “The domestic sewage exclusion 

at 40 CFR 261.4(a)(1)(ii) generally allows facilities to flush pharmaceuticals down the drain. 

However, due to the detection of active pharmaceutical ingredients in the environment, EPA 

recommends that facilities not dispose of their pharmaceuticals down the drain.” 

OIG Response: The sentence is accurate as written, and was used by EPA in its 2010 draft 

Guidance Document: Best Management Practices for Unused Pharmaceuticals at Health Care 

Facilities. At the beginning of the sentence, we added the words “Although the domestic sewage 

exclusion generally allows facilities to flush pharmaceuticals down the drain,” to address this 

comment. 

18. Page 2, EPA Definition of Hazardous Waste, 3rd and 4th sentences: For accuracy, revise to read 

“Federally, any facility, such as a hospital or other health facility, that generates more than 100 kg 

12-P-0508 24 
 

 

(220 lbs.) and less than 1000 kg (2200 lbs) of hazardous waste per month, is a small quantity 

generator (SQG) under RCRA. A facility that generates greater than 1 kg (2.2 lbs.) of acute 

hazardous waste per month and/or 1000 kg (2200 lbs.) or more of hazardous waste per month is a 

large quantity generator (LQG) under RCRA. Facilities that generate less than SQGs and LQGs 

per month have minimal RCRA requirements. Both SQGs and LQGs are subject to full RCRA 

hazardous waste regulation. Full RCRA regulations generally include management standards for 

waste accumulation and required transportation by a hazardous waste transporter to a permitted 

hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facility. “ DOT regulations require certain 

container packaging for transport, and RCRA defers to DOT on this. 

OIG Response: The sentences are accurate as written, and the suggested revisions provide a 

level of detail not necessary for this report and, in our opinion, will impede readability of the 

report. 

19. Page 2, “corrosivity”: For accuracy, revise to read “wastes that are extremely acidic or alkaline 

(basic).” 

OIG Response: OIG’s definition is accurate. It is identical with the definitions in the EPA’s 

RCRA Orientation Manual 2011. 

20. Page 3, c: For accuracy, revise to read “Chemicals are included on the U-list based on toxicity or 

other characteristics. Chemicals are included on the P-list if they are acutely toxic. P-list chemicals 

are regulated when generated in lower quantities than U-list chemicals.” 

OIG Response: Sentences changed as suggested. 

21. Page 3, 1st full sentence: For accuracy, revise to read “P-listed wastes are identified as acute 

hazardous waste because the waste has been found to be fatal to humans or animals above 

certain thresholds/doses.” 

OIG Response: Sentence changed as suggested. 

22. Page 3, Footnote 4: For accuracy, revise to read “The LD50 and LC50 value is a measure of acute 

toxicity and indicates the ability of a toxic or poisonous substance to kill half the population in 

animal studies within the study’s timeframe.” 

OIG Response: Footnote wording changed to “The LD50 and LC50 value is a measure of acute 

toxicity, and indicates the ability of a toxic or poisonous substance to kill half the population in 

animal studies after a specified test duration.” 

23. Page 3, EPA Definition of Hazardous Waste, last paragraph, first sentence: For clarity, revise to 

read “Pharmaceuticals can be included on the U-list if they exhibit any of the four hazardous 

characteristics...” 

OIG Response: “Four” added to the sentence as suggested. 

12-P-0508 25 
 

 

24. Page 3, Volume of Hazardous Pharmaceutical Waste, 3rd and 4th sentences: For accuracy, revise 

to read “However, estimates of the volume of HWP may be understated because under federal 

regulations, only large quantity generators are required to report their hazardous waste types and 

volumes.” 

OIG Response: A new sentence was added after the fourth sentence: “Further, federal 

regulations require only large quantity generators to report their hazardous waste types and 

volumes to EPA.” 

25. Page 3, Footnote 5: For clarity, revise to read “Hazardous waste generators producing more than 

2,200 pounds of hazardous waste, or more than 2.2 pounds of acute hazardous waste, in a 

calendar month must report the waste type and volume to EPA every 2 years.” 

OIG Response: Sentence changed as suggested. 

26. Page 3-4, sentence beginning “EPA estimates...”: Recommend additional context such as how 

much total hazardous waste is generated per year. 

OIG Response: We added to footnote 5: “The total volume of hazardous waste reported in 2009 

was approximately 35 million tons.” 

27. Page 4, EPA’s Best Management Practices Guidance for Pharmaceuticals, last sentence: For 

accuracy revise to read “The draft guidance describes BMPs that EPA recommends to health care 

facilities, long-term care facilities, medical clinics, and doctors’ offices, when managing and 

disposing of unused pharmaceuticals. Numerous comments were received on the draft BMPs.” 

OIG Response: No change was made. The statement is accurate as written and adding the 

suggested additional text is not necessary for purposes of the OIG’s report. 

28. Page 4, last 2 sentences: For accuracy, revise to read: “In 2009, EPA summarized comments on 

the proposed rule. There was substantial negative comment on the proposed rule such that the 

Agency decided that it could not address the comments without re-proposing a new rule. Since the 

fall of 2010, the Agency has been actively developing a new proposed rule that addresses the 

comments received on the Universal Waste proposal.” 

OIG Response: We added the following new sentences to reflect EPA’s current position on the 

rulemaking: “According to EPA, there was substantial negative comment on the proposed rule 

such that the Agency decided that it could not address the comments without re-proposing a new 

rule. EPA has recently stated that the Agency has decided to develop another proposal for 

healthcare facility-specific regulations for the management of hazardous waste pharmaceuticals.” 

29. Page 5, Other Federal Agency Hazardous Drug Lists, 2nd to last sentence: For accuracy, revise to 

read: “OSHA developed a hazardous drug list in the early 1990s and it remains a primary 

12-P-0508 26 
 

 

reference for health care facilities for identifying drugs that may pose occupational risks to 

employees.” 

OIG Response: No was made change. The statement is accurate as written. 

Chapter 2: 

30. Page 7, 1st sentence: For accuracy, revise to read “Although EPA has the authority under RCRA, it 

has not added to its regulations pharmaceuticals that may qualify as hazardous waste since 1980.” 

OIG Response: Sentence changed as suggested. 

31. Page 7, 5th sentence: For accuracy, revise to read “However, the rule was stalled during the last 

half of 2009 and in early 2010. In the fall of 2010, EPA decided it would need to revise the 

proposed UWR or create a new rule. “ 

OIG Response: To reflect EPA’s current position, we changed the sentence from “However, the 

rule has been stalled since 2009 and EPA just recently decided it would determine the need to 

revise the proposed UWR or create a new rule,” to “However, the rule has been stalled since 

2009 and EPA just recently decided it would develop another proposal for healthcare facilityspecific regulations for the management of HWPs.” 

32. Page 7, 6th sentence: For accuracy, revise to read “Given the proliferation of pharmaceutical 

development since RCRA was enacted, EPA inaction on adding to its regulations pharmaceuticals 

that qualify as hazardous waste may result in unsafe disposal and releases of dangerous 

pharmaceuticals into the environment.” 

OIG Response: Sentence revised as suggested. 

33. Page 7-8, end of 1st incomplete paragraph: Revise to reflect information in the General Comment 

on Hazardous Waste Identification. 

OIG Response: No change was made. Additional requirements for U-listing are noted in the 

footnote. 

34. Page 8, 1st full paragraph, 2nd sentence: For accuracy, revised to read “Currently, EPA 

recommends RCRA guidelines as a BMP for managing NIOSH-listed hazardous materials that are 

not currently regulated as HWP.” For completeness, OIG should provide a citation for this 

statement. 

OIG Response: The statement is accurate as written. The source is EPA’s 2010 draft Guidance 

Document: Best Management Practices for Unused Pharmaceuticals at Health Care Facilities. 

However, OIG has added text from the draft Guidance Document to clarify that RCRA does not 

require facilities to manage NIOSH-listed hazardous materials the same as RCRA hazardous 

waste. 

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35. Page 9, 1st full paragraph: Add a reference to the “2008 Universal Waste proposed rule.” 

OIG Response: Text added to the first sentence on page 9 to clarify that the reference is to the 

2008 Universal Waste proposed rule. 

36. Page 9, 1st full paragraph, 2nd sentence: Explain, or delete the term “bulk waste.” 

OIG Response: The term is from the 2008 Universal Waste proposed rule: page 73530, Federal 

Register Vol. 73, No. 232, December 2, 2008. 

37. Page 10, 1st paragraph: It would be helpful to explain what regulatory requirement the New York 

Attorney General used to cite hospitals for disposing of pharmaceutical wastes down sinks and 

toilets. NY may have more stringent regulations regarding drain disposal of hazardous wastes than 

the current federal RCRA program, which includes the domestic sewage exclusion of 40 CFR 

261.4(a)(1)(ii). 

OIG Response: The statement is based on public information released by the New York 

Attorney General. The sentence has been modified to address only violations clearly identified as 

federal RCRA violations. 

38. Page 10, Title - EPA Pharmaceutical Waste Rulemaking Has Stalled: The title appears to be a 

remnant from before the section was updated to include recent rule development activity. Also see 

next comment for further updates. For accuracy, revise to reflect progress the Agency has made 

developing a new proposed rule to read “EPA is Making Progress On a New Pharmaceutical 

Waste Rulemaking.” 

OIG Response: Title changed to “EPA Is Developing a New Pharmaceutical Rulemaking” 

39. Page 10: 3rd paragraph, 1st – 2nd sentences: To update and for accuracy, revise to read “Shortly 

after receiving and reviewing public comments in 2009, EPA determined that the 2008 UW 

proposal could not be used as a basis for a final rule that would address commenters’ concerns. 

ORCR staff said that in the fall of 2010, they began developing a new proposal for the health care 

industry for managing hazardous waste pharmaceuticals. In September of 2011 the Agency 

completed Early Guidance, the first of three major milestones in its rule development process, and 

expects to complete Option Selection, the second milestone, in April of 2012.” 

OIG Response: Sentences added as suggested, changed to reflect Agency completion of Option 

Selection. 

40. Page 11, 2nd sentence: For accuracy, revise to read “EPA’s belief that there is widespread 

noncompliance in the health care industry with RCRA hazardous waste regulations suggests that 

there may be potential risks to human health and the environment from regulated hazardous waste 

pharmaceuticals.” 

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OIG Response: No change was made. This is an editorial comment that is not materially 

different than OIG’s original conclusions. 

41. Page 11, 3rd – 5th sentences: For accuracy, revise to read “In addition, because EPA’s rule to 

improve management of HWP must be re-proposed, the current RCRA HW generator regulations 

continue apply to generators of HWPs. The RCRA HW generator regulations can be challenging 

for healthcare facilities, which may result in non-compliance over the short term. Also, over 100 

drugs have been identified by other federal agencies as pharmaceuticals that pose potential 

hazards, whereas EPA only regulates 31 pharmaceutical compounds as listed hazardous wastes 

and additional pharmaceutical compounds as characteristic hazardous wastes. The Agency has 

recently conducted a review of other federal agencies’ lists to begin to address this issue.” Note: 

The Agency does not rely on best management practices or BMPs to regulate pharmaceuticals 

that are hazardous waste, the current RCRA regulations are in effect for hazardous waste 

pharmaceuticals. 

OIG Response: No change was made. These are OIG conclusions. 

Appendix A: 

42. Page 13, Table, For accuracy, revise to read “P-listed RCRA Hazardous Waste pharmaceuticals.” 

OIG Response: “Hazardous” added to the heading as suggested. 

43. Page 13, Table: For accuracy, for phentermine and physostigmine salicylate, add a footnote 

indicating the toxicity exposure route and LD dose that was the basis for the P-listing. Without the 

footnote, the chart seems to indicate that because no rat oral LD50 was found, there was no 

reason to list the chemical. However, both chemicals were listed based on toxicology information 

for one of three exposure routes. 

OIG Response: No change was made. The statement about the lack of a rat oral LD50 does not 

imply that there was no reason to list the chemical based on EPA’s analysis. It simply states that 

no rat oral LD50 was found. 

44. Page 13, Table: For accuracy, revise column header to read: “U-listed RCRA Hazardous Waste 

pharmaceuticals with P-level LD50 values.” 

OIG Response: “Hazardous” added to heading consistent with the suggested change. 

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Appendix C 

Distribution 

Office of the Administrator 

Assistant Administrator for Solid Waste and Emergency Response 

Deputy Assistant Administrator for Solid Waste and Emergency Response 

Agency Follow-Up Official (the CFO) 

Agency Follow-Up Coordinator 

General Counsel 

Associate Administrator for Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations 

Associate Administrator for External Affairs and Environmental Education 

Director, Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery, Office of Solid Waste and 

Emergency Response 

Audit Follow-Up Coordinator, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response 

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