Pharmaceuticals that should never be used and should always be considered as pharmaceutical waste are:

• all expired pharmaceuticals;

• all unsealed syrups or eye drops (expired or unexpired);

• all cold chain damaged unexpired pharmaceuticals that should have been stored in a cold chain but were not (for example: insulin, polypeptide hormones, gamma globulins and vaccines);

• all bulk or loose tablets and capsules. If unexpired these should only be used when the container is still sealed, properly labelled or still within the original unbroken blister packs;

• all unsealed tubes of creams, ointments, etc. (expired or unexpired).

Special disposal is needed for the following:

• controlled substances; e.g. narcotics, psychotropic substances;
• anti-infective drugs;
• antineoplastics;
• cytotoxic-anti-cancer drugs, toxic drugs;
• antiseptics and disinfectants.

For more information refer to Sections 4.4, 4.5, 4.6 and 4.7.

All other pharmaceuticals should be sorted by dosage form:

solids, semi-solids and powders

• tablets, capsules, granules, powders for injection, mixtures, creams, lotions, gels, suppositories, etc.;

liquids

• solutions, suspensions, syrups, etc.;
• ampoules;

aerosol canisters

• including propellant-driven sprays and inhalers.