Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

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Pharmaceutical Universal Waste Stakeholders Group
Information and Meeting Schedule

Medicine BottlesIn 2013, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) established a Pharmaceutical Universal Waste Stakeholders Group, comprised of professionals with broad pharmaceutical expertise, to assist in the development of the regulations to allow hazardous pharmaceutical wastes to be managed as a Universal Waste in Connecticut.  The group met several times in 2013 and 2014 and DEEP had intended to begin drafting an amendment to Connecticut's Hazardous Waste Management Regulations providing for the regulation of discarded pharmaceuticals as Universal Waste.  However, In a Proposed Rule dated September 25, 2015, EPA indicated that it intended to create a uniform, nationwide system for the management of discarded pharmaceuticals, and prohibited states from listing such pharmaceuticals as Universal Waste.  As a result, the efforts of the Pharmaceutical Universal Waste Stakeholders Group were discontinued.  However, the information pertaining to this stakeholder process is, for now, being preserved on this web page since it documents this significant stakeholder process, and because many of the resources and links provided below continue to be useful to those that are interested in the management of pharmaceutical waste in Connecticut.

Background

On December 2, 2008, EPA public noticed a proposal  to add hazardous pharmaceutical waste to the Universal Waste Rule  (UWR) that was originally promulgated on May 11, 1995.  The UWR modified the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act’s (RCRA) hazardous waste regulations (40 CFR Parts 260 through 265) by providing streamlined requirements for the collection, management and disposal of a group of hazardous wastes that are widely produced by many different types of businesses.  EPA’s 2008 proposed rule was meant to facilitate the appropriate management and disposal of hazardous pharmaceutical wastes.  Due to extensive and conflicting comments , and concern over the lack of notification and tracking requirements, EPA decided to not finalize the 2008 proposal.  Instead, developed a new proposal for the sector-based management of hazardous waste pharmaceuticals which may not be as flexible as a universal waste designation.

Before 2008, DEEP has been actively working on the issues surrounding the proper management and disposal of hazardous waste pharmaceuticals.  The Department provided comments  to EPA in favor of their December 2008 proposal to add hazardous waste pharmaceuticals to the UWR.  The Department is now advocating for change through a State-initiated universal waste listing.  However, until promulgation of the proposed regulations, generators of hazardous pharmaceutical waste must manage such waste in accordance with Connecticut’s Hazardous Waste Management Regulations.

The Department will be performing the core drafting of the proposed regulations during the winter of 2013 to 2014.  The draft proposed regulations will be examined by staff from the Department, the Legislative Commissioner’s Office and the Office of the Attorney General in the spring of 2014.  The Department plans to revise the draft proposed regulations, as appropriate, during the summer of 2014, and public notice the draft proposed regulations in the fall of 2014.

Meeting Information

The Pharmaceutical Stakeholders Group held several meetings in 2013 and 2014.  Agendas and other information associated with these meetings are provided below.  For more information regarding these meetings or the information provided below, please contact Michele DiNoia by phone at 860-424-3816 or email her at michele.dinoia@ct.gov. 

2014 Meetings

Agendas and Other Materials

11/12/14 Agenda
10/08/14 Agenda

9/10/14

Agenda

8/13/14

Agenda

7/9/14

 Agenda

6/11/14

Agenda

5/14/14 Agenda
4/9/14

Agenda

3/12/14 Agenda

2/5/14

Agenda

2013 Meetings

Agendas and Other Materials

12/11/13

Agenda

11/13/13

Agenda

Additional Resources

Connecticut and Other States Universal Waste Regulations and Policies

spilled pills

Drug Enforcement Administration

State and Federal Interpretive Letters

NIOSH and OSHA

Guidance Documents

Association Websites

Other Relevant Documents/Information

Content Last Updated February 4, 2020