Pharmaceutical waste codes

For health care facilities in Washington, most pharmaceutical wastes designate as dangerous waste. Waste designation is the responsibility of the generating facility. We cannot designate generator wastes.

This page provides a list of common pharmaceuticals and their waste codes, but is not exhaustive. Waste codes for dangerous waste pharmaceuticals include:

  • P and U waste codes: P-listed, U-listed wastes
  • D waste codes: Characteristic for ignitable, toxic, corrosive, reactive
  • W waste codes: State-only waste codes

The term “dangerous waste” includes both federal hazardous waste and Washington state-only dangerous waste.

P- and U-listed wastes

Waste codes that begin with "P" or "U" are for discarded chemical products — unused, commercial products that become waste and contain only one active ingredient. 

  • P codes: Used for acutely hazardous "P-listed" chemicals. These chemicals are highly toxic and stringently regulated.
  • U codes: Used for "U-listed" chemicals.

See the full list of P- and U-listed chemicals in the regulation (WAC 173-303-9903).

Waste code Sole active ingredient Product name
P001 Warfarin and salts (concentration greater than 0.3%)
  • Coumadin
  • Warfarin
P012 Arsenic trioxide
  • Trisenox
P042 Epinephrine
  • Adrenalin
  • Anaphalaxis kit
  • Epifrin
  • Epinal
  • Epinephrine (inhalants, injectibles, kits)
  • Epinephrine hydrochloride
  • EpiPen
  • Eppy/N
  • Primatine aerosol inhaler
  • Racepinephrine
  • Racord
P046 Phentermine
  • Phentermine (CIV)
P075 Nicotine and salts
  • Nicotine e-cigarettes
  • Nicotine vape juice
P188 Physostigmine salicylate
  • Eserine salicylate
P204 Physostigmine
  • Eserine
Waste code Sole active ingredient Product name
U010 Mitomycin C
  • Mitomycin
  • Mitomycin
  • Mutamycin C
  • Mutamycin VHA Plus
U015 Azaserine
  • Chemotherapy for leukemia
U034 Chloral or chloral hydrate
  • Chloral hydrate (CIV)
U035 Chlorambucil
  • Leukeran
U044 Chloroform (not commonly seen)
  • Chloroform
U058 Cyclophosphamide
  • Cytoxan injection
  • Cytoxan Lyophilized
  • Neosar
  • Procytox
  • VHA Plus
U059 Daunomycin
  • Cerubidin
  • Daunomycin
  • Daunorubicin
  • DaunoXome
  • Liposomal Daunorubicin
  • Rubidomycin
U089 Diethylstilbesterol
  • DES (synthetic estrogen)
  • Diethylstibestrol
  • Stilphostrol
U129 Lindane
  • Lice shampoo and spray
U132 Hexachlorophene
  • Acigena
  • Almederm
  • Exofene
  • Phisohex disinfectant
  • Septisol
     
U150 Melphalan
  • Alkeran
  • L-PAM
  • Melphalan
U151 Mercury
  • Mercurochrome
  • Mercury chloride
  • Mercury idodide
  • Mercury sulfate
U182 Paraldehyde
  • Paral
  • Paraldehyde (CIV)
U187 Phenacetin
  • Acetophenetidin (typically veterinary)
U188 Phenol
  • Liquified phenol
  • Phenol
U200 Reserpine
  • Reserpine
U201 Resorcinol
  • Resorcinol
U205 Selenium sulfide
  • Exsel shampoo
  • Selenium sulfide
  • Selsun
U206 Streptozotocin
  • Streptozotocin
  • Streptozocin
  • Zanosar
U237 Uracil mustard (not commonly seen)
  • Uracil mustard
  • Uramustine
U248 Warfarin and salts (concentration less than or equal to 0.3%)
  • Warfarin

Characteristic waste codes

Waste codes that begin with "D" are for characteristic wastes.

This list identifies dangerous waste characteristics from WAC 173-303-090.

Waste code Characteristic Waste description or name Examples
D001 Ignitable Aqueous drug formulation containing 24% or more alcohol by volume.
  • Erythromycin gel (2%)
  • Taxol injection
  • Texacort solution (1%)
D001 Ignitable Liquid drug formulations, with a flashpoint of less than 140° F or 60° C, except aqueous solutions containing less than 24% alcohol.
  • Flexible collodion (Flashpoint of 45° C)
D001 Ignitable Oxidizers or materials that readily supply oxygen to a reaction in the absence of air as defined by the Department of Transportation (DOT).
  • Amyl nitrite inhalers
  • Silver nitrate applicators
D001 Ignitable Flammable aerosol propellants meeting the DOT definition of compressed gas.
  • Primatene aerosol
Waste code Characteristic Waste description or name Examples
D004 Toxic Arsenic
  • Any P012-listed waste
  • Arsenic trioxide
  • Carbasone
  • Glycobiarosol
  • Thiacetarsamide
D005 Toxic Barium
  • Barium chloride
  • Barium hydroxide
  • Barium sulfate (used in radiology)
  • Barium sulfide
D007 Toxic Chromium
  • Chromium
  • Chromium trioxide
  • Multiple mineral preparations
  • Multiple trace elements (also designates as D010)
D009 Toxic Mercury
  • Any drug with thimerosal or phenylmercuric acetate (vaccines, eye drops, nasal spray, etc.)
  • Any U151-listed waste
D010 Toxic Selenium
  • Any U205-listed waste
  • Dandruff shampoo
  • Multiple mineral preparations
D011 Toxic Silver
  • Argyrol S.S.
  • Arzol silver nitrate (also designates as D001)
  • Silvadene
  • Silver nitrate (also designates as D001)
  • Silver sulfadiazine cream
D013 Toxic Lindane
  • Treatment of lice or scabies
D022 Toxic Chloroform
  • Not commonly seen
D024 Toxic M-cresol
  • Insulin with cresol
Waste code Characteristic Waste description or name Examples
D002 Corrosive Most corrosive waste will be compounding chemicals.

Any solution with pH:

  • Greater than or equal to 12.5.
  • Less than or equal to 2.
D003 Reactive Unstable under "normal" conditions. These wastes can cause explosions, toxic fumes, gases, or vapors when heated, compressed, or mixed with water.
  • Possibly nitroglycerin1

1While nitroglycerin is the only pharmaceutical we are aware of that may be considered reactive, most medical formulations of nitroglycerin are not reactive. Those formulations that are not reactive are not considered P-listed wastes.

State-only waste codes

Washington state-only waste codes start with a “W.” Many pharmaceuticals in Washington designate for state-only:

  • Toxicity (WT01 or WT02)
    or
  • Persistence (WP01, WP02).
Product name Waste code

Aspirin

WT02

Desflurane (anesthesia gas)

WP01

Dexbrompheniramine

WT02

Dimetapp (Bromotapp Solid)

WT02

Doxycycline hyclate (tetracycline derivative)

WT02

Elimite Dermal Cream 5% (Permethrin) for lice and scabies

WT02
WP01

Fentanyl

WT02

Griseofulvin tablets

WP01

Guaifenesin (Cough Syrup)

WT02

Halothane, U.S.P.
(2-Bromo-2-Chloro-1,1,1-Trifluoroethane)

WP01

Ibuprofen

WT02

Imodium (Loperamide HCL)

WP02

Indomethacin capsule

WT02
WP01

Lidocaine

WT02

Metoclopramide (heartburn)

WP01

Nystatin cream

WP02

Phenylephrine HCL

WT02

Sevoflurane

WP01

Skin refrigerant (dichlorotetrafluoroethane)

WP01

Triamcinolone Acetonide (cream for psoriasis)

WT02
WP02

Tylenol

WT02

Vancomycin (antibiotic)

WP01

Vancomycin Hydrochloride (Injection)

WP01