Date: March 27, 2012
Source: Clean Harbors, Inc.
Clean Harbors (Norwell, MA) has introduced a program that allows healthcare facilities to dispose of both hazardous and non-hazardous pharmaceutical waste in one container. Its "One Container Program" is designed to simplify the job of hospitals, clinics and other healthcare facilities and to eliminate regulatory violations stemming from the accidental misclassification of hazardous wastes. Traditional separation on site requires extensive training of a broad range of employees. Clean Harbors expects that its economies-of-scale in operating the program over its vertically integrated network of collection, processing and hazardous waste incineration facilities, the largest in North America, will offset the higher cost to implement the single-container system.
PRESS RELEASE
One Container Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal Program
Single container system is easier for clinical staff – eliminates segregation, reduces RCRA hazardous waste disposal errors
Clean Harbors' One Container Program for pharmaceutical waste disposal at substantially reduces non-compliance with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) waste disposal rules that results from waste segregation disposal systems.
Our research shows that between five and 40 percent of hazardous pharmaceutical waste is misclassified as non-hazardous. That means that a state or federal inspection on any given day at virtually any healthcare facility in the country will reveal misclassified hazardous wastes that could result in regulatory action. Clean Harbors' One Container Program relieves staff of the responsibility and helps ensure that all waste is handled in compliance with the highest standards.
Cost Competitive – Cost Neutral
The Clean Harbors One Container Program has been implemented at many leading healthcare organizations across the country, and collects and disposes of all of the wastes in accordance with RCRA regulations covering hazardous wastes. The Clean Harbors One Container Program "blended" disposal cost is cost competitive and often cost neutral because Clean Harbors, as the largest hazardous waste incineration company in North America, owns and operates every step of the hazardous waste disposal process.
Complete Control - Highest Standards
Clean Harbors staff work with healthcare administrators to design waste management systems that use the single containers at each collection location. They also develop schedules and procedures for the collection, transportation, management, documentation and destruction of the combined waste.
The One Container Program meets all federal and individual state mandates for pharmaceutical waste management. Clean Harbors offers the added benefit of complete control of the pharmaceutical waste through destruction at one of its RCRA-certified Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) hazardous waste incinerators ensuring the safe, documented, environmentally sound destruction of materials.
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