RCRA waste codes for pharmaceuticals Expired & unused medicines, from tablets to compounding chemicals.

Free, no account
Based on 40 CFR Part 261 and EPA guidance
Nothing is stored

Waste pharmaceuticals

Characteristic hazardous waste
Ignitable waste
Flash point below 140°F (60°C)
When to use D001
Characteristic hazardous waste
Corrosive waste
A compounding chemical or preparation exhibits corrosivity
When to use D002
Characteristic hazardous waste
Arsenic
Arsenic leaching from waste pharmaceuticals reaches the TCLP limit
When to use D004
Characteristic hazardous waste
Barium
Barium leaching from waste pharmaceuticals reaches the TCLP limit
When to use D005
Characteristic hazardous waste
Cadmium
Cadmium leaching from waste pharmaceuticals reaches the TCLP limit
When to use D006
Characteristic hazardous waste
Chromium
Chromium leaching from waste pharmaceuticals reaches the TCLP limit
When to use D007
Characteristic hazardous waste
Mercury
Mercury leaching from waste pharmaceuticals reaches the TCLP limit
When to use D009
Characteristic hazardous waste
Selenium
Selenium leaching from waste pharmaceuticals reaches the TCLP limit
When to use D010
Characteristic hazardous waste
Silver
Silver leaching from waste pharmaceuticals reaches the TCLP limit
When to use D011
Characteristic hazardous waste
Lindane
Lindane leaching from waste pharmaceuticals reaches the TCLP limit
When to use D013
Characteristic hazardous waste
Chloroform
Chloroform leaching from waste pharmaceuticals reaches the TCLP limit
When to use D022
Characteristic hazardous waste
m-Cresol
m-Cresol leaching from waste pharmaceuticals reaches the TCLP limit
When to use D024
Acute hazardousP-listed waste
Warfarin and salts — an anticoagulant medicine and rodenticide
Unused warfarin above 0.3% is discarded and warfarin is the sole active ingredient
When to use P001
Acute hazardousP-listed waste
4-Aminopyridine
Unused dalfampridine (4-aminopyridine) is discarded and is the sole active ingredient
When to use P008
Acute hazardousP-listed waste
Arsenic trioxide
Unused arsenic trioxide is discarded and is the sole active ingredient
When to use P012
Acute hazardousP-listed waste
Nicotine and salts
Unused nicotine meets P075
When to use P075
Acute hazardousP-listed waste
Physostigmine salicylate
Unused physostigmine salicylate is discarded and is the sole active ingredient
When to use P188
U-listed waste
Mitomycin C — a chemotherapy drug
Unused mitomycin C is discarded and is the sole active ingredient
When to use U010
U-listed waste
Chloral
Unused chloral hydrate is discarded and is the sole active ingredient
When to use U034
U-listed waste
Cyclophosphamide — a chemotherapy drug
Unused cyclophosphamide is discarded and is the sole active ingredient
When to use U058
U-listed waste
Daunomycin — a chemotherapy drug also called daunorubicin
Unused daunomycin is discarded and is the sole active ingredient
When to use U059
U-listed waste
Lindane — an insecticide
Unused lindane is discarded and is the sole active ingredient
When to use U129
U-listed waste
Melphalan — a chemotherapy drug
Unused melphalan is discarded and is the sole active ingredient
When to use U150
U-listed waste
Selenium sulfide
Unused selenium sulfide is discarded and is the sole active ingredient
When to use U205
U-listed waste
Streptozotocin — a cancer medicine
Unused streptozotocin is discarded and is the sole active ingredient
When to use U206

Other codes that mention it 3

K-listed waste
Wastewater sludge from making arsenic-based veterinary drugs
When to use K084
K-listed waste
Distillation tar from making arsenic-based veterinary drugs
When to use K101
K-listed waste
Spent activated carbon from making arsenic-based veterinary drugs
When to use K102

Sharps bin and yellow clinical bag, drawn for RCRA waste codes for pharmaceuticals. Expired & unused medicines, from tablets to compounding chemicals. — Takes D001 if flammable, D002 if corrosive, or a metal D code such as arsenic, cadmium or mercury.

Which RCRA codes apply to waste pharmaceuticals?

The named drugs are examples. Use the unused-product conditions for P and U codes.

Code	When it applies
D001	Flash point below 140°F (60°C)
D002	A compounding chemical or preparation exhibits corrosivity
D004	Arsenic in the leachate reaches the TCLP limit
D005	Barium in the leachate reaches the TCLP limit
D006	Cadmium in the leachate reaches the TCLP limit
D007	Chromium in the leachate reaches the TCLP limit
D009	Mercury in the leachate reaches the TCLP limit
D010	Selenium in the leachate reaches the TCLP limit
D011	Silver in the leachate reaches the TCLP limit
D013	Lindane in the leachate reaches the TCLP limit
D022	Chloroform in the leachate reaches the TCLP limit
D024	m-Cresol in the leachate reaches the TCLP limit
P001	Discarded unused warfarin above 0.3%, with warfarin as the sole active ingredient
P008	Discarded unused dalfampridine (4-aminopyridine) as the sole active ingredient
P012	Discarded unused arsenic trioxide as the sole active ingredient
P075	Unused nicotine that meets P075
P188	Discarded unused physostigmine salicylate as the sole active ingredient
U010	Discarded unused mitomycin C as the sole active ingredient
U034	Discarded unused chloral hydrate as the sole active ingredient
U058	Discarded unused cyclophosphamide as the sole active ingredient
U059	Discarded unused daunomycin as the sole active ingredient
U129	Discarded unused lindane as the sole active ingredient
U150	Discarded unused melphalan as the sole active ingredient
U205	Discarded unused selenium sulfide as the sole active ingredient
U206	Discarded unused streptozotocin as the sole active ingredient

How do I prove the code for waste pharmaceuticals?

Normal removal empties a stock, dispensing or unit-dose bottle, vial or ampule up to 1 liter or 10,000 pills. It also empties a unit-dose container.

A syringe is empty when its plunger is fully depressed. An IV bag is empty after full administration, or when a nonacute bag meets 261.7(b)(1).

Other containers, including inhalers, aerosol cans, nebulizers and ointment tubes, remain non-creditable hazardous-waste pharmaceuticals. They are empty only if they held nonacute waste and meet 261.7(b)(1) or (2).

Potentially creditable pharmaceuticals sent to a reverse distributor use 266.509 delivery confirmation without a hazardous waste manifest. Keep the confirmation. If none arrives within 35 calendar days, contact the carrier and recipient. DOT rules still apply.

Healthcare facilities and reverse distributors can't sewer hazardous waste pharmaceuticals, even when they are VSQGs.

Non-creditable and evaluated pharmaceuticals use the 266.508 manifest route to a designated facility. For non-creditable shipments, a healthcare facility enters PHRM or PHARMS in Item 13. Individual hazardous waste codes are optional there.

Is there another way to manage waste pharmaceuticals?

Before assigning a code, check the alcohol-water exception and the P075 OTC nicotine exclusion.

Healthcare pharmaceutical containers follow the size- and device-specific tests in 40 CFR 266.507. These container and shipping rules bind healthcare facilities and reverse distributors under Part 266 Subpart P.