Cytotoxic Waste Disposal

Workers must segregate and dispose of Cytotoxic Waste properly. The Environmental Protection (EPA) act states that all Cytotoxic Waste must be incinerated. Ace Waste’s EPA-approved incineration facilities destroy all Cytotoxic Waste.

A waste audit can also help you to properly classify waste to improve your waste management and disposal. Contact our team to find out more.

Healthcare facilities must install strict control measures when handling Cytotoxic Waste. Correct Cytotoxic Waste handling minimises the risk of personal and environmental exposure.

Cytotoxic drugs should be handled in a manner which avoids:

• skin contact
• the liberation of aerosols or powdered drugs into the air
• cross-contamination with other drugs.

Those who prepare and administer Cytotoxic drugs are most at risk of exposure. To minimise this risk, facilities should follow a specific recruitment process. Facilities must also provide their staff with appropriate PPE and compliance training. Reach out to our Ace Waste team to discover more about correct Cytotoxic Waste handling.

Hospitals are responsible for ensuring their workers follow safe Cytotoxic Waste storage and disposal procedures. All workers are required to wear PPE and undergo consistent, up-to-date training.

Staff must segregate Cytotoxic Waste and use sturdy, colour-coded (purple) packaging. Contact Ace Waste today to ask about our approved range of Cytotoxic Waste bins.

Healthcare facilities and healthcare homes must store Cytotoxic Drugs in a highly secure, signed area, accessible only by authorised personnel.

QLD Health states that Cytotoxic Drugs must be kept in purple, puncture-resistant, leak-proof containers with clear cytotoxic warning labels. Depending on the medication, they may also require refrigeration. These areas must also have SDS (Safety Data Sheets) readily available for each Cytotoxic Drug. 

Cytotoxic spills can occur when Cytotoxic Drugs are transported, handled, disposed of or stored. Even though there are numerous control measures to avoid Cytotoxic spills, if you are handling Cytotoxic Drugs, you must know how to manage spills effectively.

Firstly, each workplace will have tailored risk assessments to identify all areas where a Cytotoxic spill could happen. 

A risk assessment will also identify how to manage a Cytotoxic spill and specifically which situations require workers to use a Spill Kit. Spill Kits contain, control and clean up hazardous chemical spills or leaks in the workplace. Wherever Cytotoxic Drugs are present, appropriate locations for storing the Spill Kit should be selected and signed appropriately. 

Each location will have unique Safety Operation Procedures (SOPs) for their workplace. However, the procedure should always involve protecting workers from exposure and a basic spill reporting system to alert high management. 

For more information on managing a Cytotoxic spill, click here, or contact the Ace Waste team.