Page 81 - 2020 ARE eGuide for Clinical at Bethesda

Let’s review the best practices to dispose of waste.

At Bethesda, all aerosols, inhalers, and silver nitrate are returned to the
pharmacy for disposal except for the offsite outpatient locations that
follow their entities’ procedures.

All other medications including chemotherapy
are discarded in the Universal Pharmaceutical
Waste (UPW) black bin (except for narcotics).

Secure a witness to waste narcotics down the drain.
All pharmaceutical containers are labeled with a container start and
end date, a phone number to call for pick up, and a phone number to
call for emergency spills.
Chemotherapy syringes with needles attached should also be
discarded in UPW black bin.
Free fluids are not to be discarded in the pharmaceutical waste bins.
Solidify any fluids that contain medication before disposing in the
appropriate bin.

All needles must be discarded in the sharps
containers,. Additional items include glass
ampules, carpujects, syringes, vials, and IV
bags containing controlled substances.

Blood bags must only be discarded in the red bio-hazardous
waste bags and/or bins. All biomedical waste shall be
discarded at the point of origin.
Non-sharp biomedical waste items are discarded in red
plastic bags and/or bins marked with the biohazard symbol
on the outside.

Review the BHSF Waste Segregation Chart for 2020