Guidelines available for proper segregation of hazardous medication waste 

Expired, unused and/or partially administered medications must be segregated into appropriate waste containers, according to Yale New Haven Health’s Regulated Medical Waste Policy. 

Hazardous medication waste is defined by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and applicable state regulations. This should not be confused with hazardous medications as defined by NIOSH/USP800 standards.

• Instructions for proper segregation and disposal of medication waste are in the electronic medication administration record (eMAR). 
• All YNHHS staff who manage medication waste should complete the LMS training program “Managing Pharmaceutical Waste at Yale New Haven Health.”

A poster is available to guide staff in proper waste segregation. For the most up-to-date version, visit Policies on the intranet and search for “Regulated Medical Waste Management.” Select the policy; the link to the poster is on the left under “External Links.” You can also order the poster from the Print Center on the employee intranet; search for form number 11547. 

For more information, contact Accreditation and Regulatory Affairs (intranet).