Due to the health hazards and potentially disastrous ecological consequences associated with the improper disposition of expired pharmaceuticals and other pharmaceutical wastes, pharmacies, medical laboratories and other healthcare facilities who generate, handle, store or dispose of same in Hialeah, Miami-Dade County and across the state of Florida must comply with a complex, confusing and ever-changing array of hazardous and solid waste regulations.

At the federal level, if the materials in question are deemed by regulators to be "pharmaceutical hazardous waste" then they are subject to the provisions of the U.S. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Implementation, regulation and enforcement of the RCRA falls under the purview of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery (ORCR). And in addition to its current guidelines on the management of pharmaceutical hazardous waste, in August of 2015 the EPA signed a rule proposing sector-specific regulations for the management of hazardous waste pharmaceuticals.

The EPA is not the only U.S. government bureaucracy given pharmaceutical waste management oversight authority, e.g.:

- The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT/DOT) Pipeline (yes, pipeline) and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issues pharmaceutical waste management interpretations;

- The U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ/DOJ) Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) publishes rules for the disposal of controlled substances, which implements the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act; and

- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Food and Drug Administration gives guidance on how to dispose of unused medicines.

Pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, labs and other responsible for unused medicines, expired prescription drugs or other pharmaceutical waste operating in Hialeah FL, Miami-Dade County or elsewhere in the Sunshine State must also comply with all applicable rules and regulations promulgated by the Florida Department of Health (FDOH), its Bureau of Public Health Pharmacy, the Florida Board of Pharmacy, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).

Florida Administrative Code (FAC) Rule: 62-730.186 defines Universal Pharmaceutical Waste (UPW) and "provides a simplified and flexible process to promote proper management and reduce illegal disposal in Florida". FDEP explains these UPW rules in a PDF entitled "Universal Pharmaceutical Waste". FEDP also publishes a list of Universal Pharmaceutical Waste Transporters in Florida. Attorney Sharon Roberts notes that only FDEP registered hazardous waste transporters and transporters who have noti?ed the FDEP of its activities are authorized to transport pharmaceutical waste in Florida, and recommends that pharmaceutical waste generators verify the credentials of their pharmaceutical waste transporters.

United Medical Industries Corp. ("UMI Waste" or "UMI") is proud to be one of the select few hazardous waste transporters included on the FDEP list of Universal Pharmaceutical Waste Transporters in Florida. For a fast quote and free initial pickup call toll-free 866-864-1316 or logon to https://umibiomedical.com.

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UMI Waste
866-864-1316