[Pharmwaste] Question regharding incinerators

[Volkman, Jennifer]

Depending on the type of incinerator, how it is fed and the emission control system, a medical or infectious waste incinerator might do as good a job destroying pharms as a haz waste incinerator.  Regardless, any pharm waste that is categorized as a RCRA haz waste must go to a RCRA permitted haz waste incinerator.  If a pharm is not a HW it could go to a medical/infectious waste incinerator if your state permits that.  You should check in with your state or local HW inspectors.  

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From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us on behalf of rachel golden
Sent: Wed 1/17/2007 2:14 PM
To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: [Pharmwaste] Question regharding incinerators


I have a question regarding the incineration of unused pharmaceuticals.  I am relatively new to the list, so forgive me if this has been discussed before.  I believe that unused drugs in North Carolina sent through a reverse distributor end up being incinerated at a medical waste facility.  The point was recently made that pharmaceuticals are considered hazardous waste, not medical waste, and that the incineration process safe for medical waste is not necessarily safe for drugs.  Does anybody have any information on this subject from anywhere in the U.S.?  Specifically, what are the differences between incinerators built to handle medical waste versus hazardous waste?  Are drugs considered to be medical waste or hazardous waste?  
I appreciate the help!
Rachel

-- 
Rachel Golden
Adult Environmental Education Program Manager
Office of Environmental Education
NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
1609 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1609
919-733-0711 (phone) 919-733-1616 (fax)
rachel.golden at ncmail.net
www.eenorthcarolina.org <http://www.eenorthcarolina.org/> 

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