Chemotherapy is the most important and widely used drug to treat millions of patients suffering from cancer. It is also considered highly hazardous to people who handle or encounter them. With chemotherapy demands projected to rise by more than 50% in the next two decades, proper disposal of chemotherapy is an ever-prominent issue. Before diving into the disposal process, it’s also important to know how long chemotherapy waste can be stored safely before disposal — including regulatory time limits and best practices. Learn more here: How Long Can Chemotherapy Waste Be Stored Before Disposal?.
In This Article
Waste Disposal Process of Chemotherapy Waste
Understanding the Types of Chemotherapy Waste:
Chemotherapy waste falls under two categories: trace chemotherapy waste and bulk chemotherapy waste. The separation depends on the amount of chemotherapy drug left in an item.
Trace:
Trace chemotherapy waste contains slight (trace) amounts of chemotherapy drugs. Examples include empty IV bags or drug bottles, syringes, personal protective equipment (PPE), or any item the chemotherapy drugs might have contaminated. These items are lightly contaminated, so they are treated not as hazardous waste but as infectious waste. To meet the "trace" distinction, containers must be RCRA empty. Which means they have no more than 3% by weight of the container's total capacity left over.
Bulk:
Bulk chemotherapy waste does not meet the RCRA qualifications to be empty or saturated with chemotherapy agents. That means containers like IV bags with more than 3% by weight of the total capacity of the container leftover still are under bulk waste. Also included in the bulk category are materials to clean up chemotherapy spills or heavily saturated PPE in chemotherapy agents.
Trace Chemotherapy Waste Disposal
Trace chemotherapy waste disposal is usually disposed of in the industry standard bright yellow containers. However, trace chemotherapy waste segregation may be further, depending on different state rules and regulations. Some states may require sharps contaminated with chemotherapy drugs to be separate from the "soft" chemotherapy waste (gloves, gowns, etc.)
The safest bet for fully compliant trace chemotherapy waste disposal is to dispose of all "soft" waste in the yellow containers labeled as trace chemo waste. For sharps, the recommendation is to use a sharps container designated for chemotherapy waste.
Once correctly disposed of, the containers are sent or picked up by a medical waste disposal company or sent to an approved incinerator.
Bulk Chemotherapy Waste Disposal
On the other hand, bulk chemotherapy waste must be placed in a black hazardous waste container because it is considered hazardous.
Again, rules vary from state to state. Some states allow the treatment of non-hazardous bulk waste to be like trace chemotherapy waste. If the state does not allow this, all bulk chemo waste is treated as hazardous and is subject to more stringent regulations than trace chemotherapy waste. One regulation is the use of a medical waste disposal company that is certified in the disposal of hazardous waste.
Chemo Drugs Classified as Hazardous Waste
Some chemotherapy drugs already have a hazardous waste designation, and any waste produced will fall into hazardous waste.
The most common include:
Arsenic Trioxide
Chlorambucil
Cyclophosphamide
Daunomycin
Diethylstilbestrol
Melphalan
Mitomycin C
Streptozotocin
Uracil Mustard
For the complete list of hazardous waste classifications, please visit the EPA's list.
MedPro Disposal resources for Chemotherapy Waste
The disposal process of chemotherapy waste is often confusing and a hassle to deal with. But don't worry! MedPro disposal can handle the proper collection, storage, and all disposal process of chemotherapy waste at a surprisingly low cost. For more information, reach out to us or book a short call today.
Common Questions
- How much does medical waste disposal cost?
- Cost depends on waste volume, pickup frequency, container size, waste type, and location. Most practices pay a flat monthly or per-pickup rate rather than being billed per pound. Typical monthly costs range from about $50-$200 for small practices and dental offices up to $1,000+ for long-term care facilities, with hospitals and large health systems running $1,000-$50,000+ per month — see our full pricing breakdown by facility type. MedPro customers also save an average of 30% by switching from their previous provider.
- Is medical waste disposal legally required?
- Yes. Any facility generating regulated medical waste must comply with OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, applicable EPA/DOT rules, and their state's specific medical waste regulations, which vary by state.
- What's the difference between medical waste and biohazard waste?
- Biohazard waste is a subset of medical waste. Medical waste is the broad category (including sharps and pharmaceuticals); biohazard waste specifically refers to material containing or potentially containing infectious agents.
- What happens to medical waste after pickup?
- Most regulated medical waste is autoclaved (steam-sterilized) to achieve at least a 6-log reduction in microorganisms. Waste that can't be autoclaved — pathological or chemotherapy waste — is typically incinerated under EPA air-quality controls. You receive documentation confirming compliant treatment.
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