Trace Chemotherapy Waste

Trace Chemotherapy Waste

Trace chemotherapy waste is waste that typically comes from treating cancer patients. It contains hazardous drug waste, from items like syringes and I.V. bags that have been fully administered, and are empty, or RCRA empty, meaning that no more than 3% of the drug, by weight of the total capacity of the container, is remaining. it is always considered “RCRA” empty. Trace chemotherapy waste is treated as regulated medical waste with one exception is incinerated, not autoclaved. All Trace Chemotherapy Waste must be incinerated.

If trace chemo waste is managed as infectious waste, the disposal methods like autoclaving for infectious waste do not destroy the cytotoxic nature of the drug residue. Therefore, trace chemotherapy waste (yellow containers) must be segregated from infectious waste (red bag) to ensure that the trace chemotherapy waste is incinerated. Most hazardous waste incinerators are operated at (1800/F to 2200/F) to ensure nearly complete destruction of the waste.

What Goes in the Waste Containers?

Trace chemo waste, Yellow Containers – Empty vials, syringes, IV bags, etc. that held antineoplastics must be empty in order to be considered trace chemotherapy waste. Place these empty containers into the yellow waste container to be incinerated.

Trace chemo waste, soft – Unless overtly contaminated, gowns, goggles, gloves, tubing, and wipes used with antineoplastic should be placed in the yellow waste container to be incinerated.

Trace chemo waste, sharps – Place sharps contaminated with chemotherapy drugs in a sharps container marked “trace chemo” and “incinerate only”.

Examples of sharps include (but are not limited to):

BioWaste provides trace chemo disposal services to waste generators in Nashville, Chattanooga and surrounding areas of Middle Tennessee. Give us a call at 615-491-4929 or complete the convenient form on this page. We look forward to serving you.