[Pharmwaste] How is warfarin disposed at your Hospital?

[Catherine Zimmer]

Hi William,
As a former RCRA inspector who helped start MN’s healthcare haz. waste initiative, I would say that “no”, sterilization is used to eliminate pathogens/microbes, but is not adequate treatment for hazardous chemicals.  This has always been part of the concern associated with treating say, mercury contaminated lab reagents as “infectious” waste.  And, as Jeff Hollar mentioned, theoretically, if the hospital is sterilizing the waste warfarin containers, then it could be considered “treatment”.  In my judgement this would be both improper disposal and treatment without a permit.  

I would also ask what they are testing for.  To the best of my knowledge, there is no exit from the P-listing for warfarin.  

Very truly yours,

Catherine Zimmer, MS, BSMT
Principal
Zimmer Environmental Improvement LLC
Ph: 651.645.7509

From: William More 
Sent: Wednesday, November 13, 2013 8:13 AM
To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us 
Subject: [Pharmwaste] How is warfarin disposed at your Hospital?

I recently came across a Hospital during a Hazardous Waste Inspection that claims steam sterilized Warfarin contaminated containers are no longer "P Waste."  Has anyone seen this? or records of analysis that can back this up?  I'm waiting on submission of test results, but thought I would see if anyone else has heard of this. 


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