Cytotoxic and Cytostatic Waste Disposal
We can arrange cytotoxic and cytostatic waste disposal for hospitals, pharmacies, laboratories, care providers, and many other businesses across the UK with no hidden charges.
Any cytotoxic and cytostatic medicines, or items contaminated by them such as suitable PPE, wipes, medicine containers and sharps, can be collected. Our service provides specialist bags and containers free of charge, with one-off or scheduled collections available at your discretion.
Tell us what waste you produce, how much there is and whether it includes medicines, clinical waste or sharps. We’ll confirm the correct container and collection route and provide waste documentation at no extra cost.
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What is cytotoxic and cytostatic waste?
Cytotoxic and cytostatic waste includes medicines with hazardous properties such as acute toxicity, carcinogenicity, mutagenicity or toxicity to reproduction, along with certain waste contaminated by those medicines. This can include unused or expired medicines as well as PPE, wipes, packaging or sharps contaminated during their preparation or administration.
There are two types of cytotoxic and cytostatic waste:
- Medicinal products that are toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic for reproduction. These drugs are used to treat cancer or similar conditions. Such waste could include expired or leftover medication in the form of tablets, liquids, and creams. These products are particularly dangerous if not disposed of correctly, as the drugs themselves are designed to either kill cells or inhibit cell growth.
- Contaminated waste. Due to the dangers associated with cytotoxic and cytostatic medication, any items or products that come into contact with the drugs also class as cytotoxic and cytostatic waste. For example, this could be gloves or garments worn by a medical professional to handle such medication.
Cytotoxic and cytostatic waste examples
Examples of cytotoxic and cytostatic waste include:
- Expired or unused cytotoxic/cytostatic medicines
- Medicine vials and containers with residues
- Blister packs contaminated with relevant medicines
- Gloves, wipes and PPE contaminated with cytotoxic/cytostatic medicines
- Dressings or patches contaminated with relevant medicines
- Needles, syringes and other sharps contaminated with cytotoxic/cytostatic medicines
- Hormonal medication, immunosuppressants and some antiviral medicines or antibiotics with cytotoxic/cytostatic properties
Cytotoxic and cytostatic waste classification and paperwork
Cytotoxic and cytostatic medicines are hazardous waste. In England, human healthcare cytotoxic/cytostatic medicines use waste code 18 01 08*, while animal healthcare uses 18 02 07*. Different coding can apply where infectious waste or sharps are also contaminated with these medicines.
As cytotoxic and cytostatic waste is potentially hazardous, meaning it could threaten human life and the environment, there are various regulations in place that dictate how it should be disposed of. This includes the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health 2002 (COSHH). It’s a law that requires employers to control substances hazardous to health.
Businesses need to keep the waste correctly segregated, use the appropriate container and transfer it through an authorised hazardous healthcare waste route. The required movement paperwork varies across the UK.
When handling cytotoxic and cytostatic waste, you should:
- Reduce the risk of infection spreading (from contaminated products to staff/members of the public).
- Ensure clinical waste is stored separately from general waste, to reduce the chances of cross-contamination.
- Prevent illegal use or reuse of the products.
- Ensure that hazardous waste is disposed of correctly, away from landfill.
- Protect the environment.
Who produces cytotoxic and cytostatic waste?
Most of the businesses that produce cytotoxic and cytostatic waste operate within the healthcare industry, where such medication is administered daily. Some of the main sectors producing this waste type include:
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Laboratories
Research and testing involving relevant medicines can result in expired drugs, samples, PPE and contaminated containers.
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Pharmacies
Pharmacies can produce expired, returned or otherwise unusable cytotoxic and cytostatic medicines.
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Hospitals
Doctors’ surgeries and hospitals are a prime producer of cytotoxic and cytostatic waste, as it’s where most conditions are treated and medicines distributed daily.
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Vets
Veterinary cancer treatment can produce cytotoxic/cytostatic medicine waste and contaminated sharps or materials.
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Care homes
Where residents receive regular medical treatment for cancer and other conditions, any contaminated items or expired medication can create waste.
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Beauty salons
Syringes and unused Botox injections are common examples of cytotoxic and cytostatic waste in beauty salons and aesthetic clinics.
How does cytotoxic and cytostatic waste collection work?
- Tell us what waste you produce – Let us know whether you have unused medicines, medicine-contaminated PPE or dressings, sharps or another cytotoxic/cytostatic waste stream.
- Receive the correct container – We confirm whether the waste requires a purple clinical waste bag, purple-lidded sharps container or another healthcare waste container.
- Keep the stream separate – Store cytotoxic and cytostatic waste separately from other medicines, infectious waste, offensive waste and general waste.
- Arrange collection and treatment – Collections are arranged through registered waste carriers and sent to an authorised healthcare waste facility for the appropriate high-temperature incineration route. If your site needs a one-off collection, we can arrange this as well.
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How to store cytotoxic and cytostatic waste
You must ensure all cytotoxic and cytostatic waste is stored safely and securely on your premises before collection. This helps reduce cross-contamination and keeps your employees and the general public safe. It should be kept in a purple cytotoxic and cytostatic waste bag or purple lidded clinical waste bin.
These are designed to specifically store cytotoxic and cytostatic waste, which makes it simple to separate different types of clinical waste if your organisation produces a variety. Keep these bags and bins in a secure, dry place before collection to prevent contamination from the likes of rainwater and prevent unauthorised persons accessing and being exposed to this potentially hazardous waste.
To store cytotoxic and cytostatic waste safely and appropriately, business owners should:
- Make all employees aware of the dangers associated with cytotoxic and cytostatic waste.
- Keep cytotoxic and cytostatic waste separate from other healthcare waste before collection.
- Put together a dedicated waste management plan.
- Ensure all waste is segregated correctly and stored in the appropriate bags, bins, and containers.
- Put necessary security measures in place so cytotoxic and cytostatic waste is stored in a secure environment, such as a gated area.
- Clearly label all waste before collection.
How is cytotoxic and cytostatic waste disposed of?
In England, waste containing cytotoxic or cytostatic medicines requires high-temperature incineration above 1,000°C. This applies to the medicines themselves and waste contaminated with them. After collection and transportation to a relevant facility, your cytotoxic and cytostatic waste will be placed in a high-temperature incinerator, with temperatures reaching up to 1100°C to destroy this hazardous waste type.
In some cases, the cytotoxic waste disposal procedure may involve chemical degradation. This is only possible for the actual cytotoxic and cytostatic medications, as it’s where the chemical substances are broken down. It’s a much rarer disposal method and will only be used if experts at the relevant facility believe it best.
Cytotoxic and cytostatic medicines are not suitable for an ordinary landfill route. They require the authorised incineration route for this healthcare waste stream. With Business Waste, you can rest easy knowing we never send cytotoxic and cytostatic waste to landfill. We do everything in our power to reduce the environmental impact our practices have to help you keep the planet clean and manage your waste.