Controlled Drugs Disposal
Pharmacists and vets who prescribe, supply, store, and dispose of any medicines that contain controlled drugs (CDs) must follow strict legal regulations. Compliance with the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (MDA) and the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 (MDR) are mandatory. This protects your organisation when managing expired and waste controlled drugs.
There are five different schedules of controlled drugs that affect the regulations around supply, storage, and disposal. Improper use of controlled drugs (including storage and disposal) and lead to serious legal penalties including large fines and even a prison sentence. Our controlled drug services help protect your organisation.
Discover everything you need to know about the disposal of controlled drugs in your pharmacy, healthcare facility, or veterinary practice. Get a free quote for collection and disposal services or speak to one of our expert team for more information – call 0800 211 8390 or contact us online.
Get a free quote
Get a fast FREE quote for controlled drugs disposal
- Free quote within 1 hr
- Any type of controlled drugs
- FREE bins and delivery
- We cover all of the UK
What are controlled drugs?
Controlled drugs are those identified as being addictive and harmful as they contain particularly powerful chemical compounds. Their manufacture, supply, and use are heavily regulated by the government because of this. There are various medicinal uses for humans or animals of controlled drugs.
These are some examples of controlled drugs:
- Amphetamine
- Fentanyl
- Ketamine
- Medazepam
- Mescaline
- Methadone
- Morphine
- Oxymorphone
- Tetrazepam
- Tramadol
Explore the full controlled drugs list.
Controlled drug waste includes any expired medicine that contains any type or amount of controlled drugs. This could be medication returned by patients to a pharmacy, out-of-date medicines, leftover medicine of an unusable quantity, and any CDs that are drawn up but not issued or dispensed to patients.
Destruction of controlled drugs
Destruction of any Schedule 2 controlled drugs in England, Scotland, and Wales must happen in the presence of and be directed by a witness, who can be one of the following:
- Inspector appointed under the Veterinary Medicines Regulations (VMR)
- Vet (independent of the practice where the destruction takes place)
- Anyone legally authorised to witness the destruction of CDs (like a Police CD Liaison Officer (CDLO))
After the destruction, you must record the date and quantity in the CD register and get it signed by the witness.
The location where the waste controlled drugs are produced also affects compliance requirements:
- On-site – to store, sort, and denature controlled drugs produced on site you should register for an Environment Agency T28 exemption certificate. This enables pharmacies and other places to denatured CDs in compliance with the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001. Multiple exemptions are required to cover every location where CD waste is produced and denatured.
- Offsite – you can’t store, sort, and denature CDs with a T28 exemption certificate for controlled drug waste generated away from your site. This includes controlled drugs returned by patients or healthcare staff, in patients’ homes, or brought together at collection points.
Bins for controlled drugs
Separate and store controlled drugs safely before destruction and disposal. Explore a wide range of clinical waste bins and bags suitable for controlled drug waste.
Denaturing controlled drugs
Rendering the controlled drugs irretrievable must be done before disposal so they can’t be reconstituted or reused. Denaturing is required for all controlled drugs in schedules 2, 3, and 4 (part 1) before being put in a waste container. There are many commercial denaturing kits available, and the denaturing should occur in front of another member of staff.
Denaturing kits come in various sizes and types, but each one renders the CDs irretrievable and unusable. They can apply chemical reactions and physical changes to the drugs, which prevents misuse or accidental ingestion that can cause serious harm. Some denaturing kits are plastic boxes that contain an absorbent material.
After denaturing controlled drugs they can then be placed in a pharmaceutical bin or other medical waste container for disposal. These must be removed and transported by licensed waste carriers to an appropriate waste management facility for disposal.
CD destruction services
At Business Waste, we can provide a range of CD destruction services to help you dispose of any controlled drugs properly. Tell us a bit about the types and volumes of controlled drug waste you have and one of our experts can advise on suitable management options.
This can include help creating an efficient and cost-effective waste management plan to store your controlled drugs. We can provide free bins for any type of medical waste with no delivery or rental fees – just pay for collection. Then arrange waste collection and disposal at a suitable time and day.
Licensed waste carriers will remove your bins and transport them to a registered waste management facility for disposal. You receive a free duty of care certificate that provides proof and peace of mind that your waste is disposed of safely, legally, and responsibly.
Find out more about our CD destruction services:
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Waste collection
Organise waste collection of controlled drugs waste from anywhere in the UK.
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Waste disposal
Safe disposal of controlled drug waste in line with UK laws and regulations.
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Waste planning
Waste management planning and consultancy for controlled drugs.
How to dispose of controlled drugs
To dispose of controlled drugs within your business follow these steps:
- Check the type and schedule number of the controlled drugs according to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001.
- Use a denaturing kit for any controlled drugs in schedules 2, 3, and 4 (part 1).
- Ensure your organisation has a T28 exemption from the Environment Agency.
- Arrange a relevant witness for the denaturing and record it in a controlled drugs register.
- After denaturing, place the waste in a suitable pharmaceutical, medical, or sharps waste bin and store it in a secure place.
- Book collection of the medical waste bin by a licensed waste carrier and ensure you receive a duty of care certificate or waste transfer note.
Who needs controlled drugs destruction?
Pharmacies and veterinary practices are the main organisations that deal with expired, returned, and other controlled drug waste. Other healthcare facilities such as nursing homes and hospitals may also produce and store controlled drugs that require destruction and disposal.
Discover more about waste services including controlled drug destruction in these organisations:
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Pharmacies
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Hospitals
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Care homes
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Vets
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Dentists
Arrange controlled drugs disposal
Organise removal of waste controlled drugs from your premises anywhere in the UK with Business Waste. Licensed waste carriers can remove such refuse on a daily, weekly, or fortnightly basis to suit your needs. We can provide free bins including a wide range of pharmaceutical and medical bins – you only pay for collection.
Speak to one of our friendly and expert team to discuss your needs and for answers to any questions you have. Get a free no-obligation quote for waste collection from your business anywhere in the UK – call 0800 211 8390 or contact us online.
Get a fast and free quote
Get a fast FREE quote for controlled drugs disposal
- Free quote within 1 hr
- Any type of controlled drugs
- FREE bins and delivery
- We cover all of the UK
Published 28th May 2025 by Graham Matthews.