Example of Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) waste codes for pharmaceuticals

The P-list identifies acute hazardous wastes from discarded commercial chemical products. They must contain the constituent as the sole active ingredient and be unused or discarded.
 

Waste code	Constituent of concern	Product name
P001	Warfarin and salts (concentration greater than 0.3percent)	Coumadin, Warfarin
P012	Arsenic trioxide	Trisenox
P042	Epinephrine	Adrenalin, EpiPen, Eppy/N, Epifrin, Epinal, Anaphalaxis kit, epinephrine (inhalants, injectibles, kits), Racepinephrine, Racord, Primatine aerosol inhaler
P046	Phentermine	Phentermine (CIV)
P075	Nicotine and salts	Nicotine patches, Habitrol, Nicoderm, Nicorette, Nicotrol, tetrahydronicotyrine
P188	Physostigmine salicylate	Also known as Eserine salicylate
P204	Physostigmine	Also known as Eserine

The U-list identifies hazardous wastes from discarded commercial chemical products. They must contain the constituent as the sole active ingredient and be unused or discarded.
 

Waste code	Constituent of concern	Product name
U010	Mitomycin C	Mitomycin, Mitomycin C, Mutamycin, Mutamycin VHA Plus
U015	Azaserine	Chemotherapy for leukemia
U034	Chloral / Chloral hydrate	Chloral hydrate (CIV)
U035	Chlorambucil	Leukeran
U044	Chloroform	Not commonly seen
U058	Cyclophosphamide	CTX, Cytoxan injection, Lycophilized/VHA Plus, Neosar, Procytox
U059	Daunomycin	Daunorubicin, Cerubidin, DaunoXome, Rubidomycin, Liposomal, Idarubicin/Idamycin, Daunomycin
U075	Dichlorodifluoromethane	Dichlorodifluoromethane
U089	Diethylstilbesterol	Diethylstibestrol, DES (synthetic estrogen), Stilphostrol
U121	Trichloromonofluromethane	Trichlorofluoromethane
U129	Lindane	G-Well shampoo, Kwell shampoo
U132	Hexachlorophene	Phisohex disinfectant
U150	Melphalan	Alkeran, L-PAM, Melphalan
U151	Mercury	Mercurochrome, mercury idodide, mercury chloride, mercury sulfate
U182	Paraldehyde	Paral, Paraldehyde (CIV)
U187	Phenacetin	Acetophenetidin (typically veterinary)
U188	Phenol	Phenol, liquified phenol
U200	Reserpine	Resperine
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 percent)	Warfarin

 

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

Waste code	Characteristic waste	Drug formulations with these characteristics
Ignitable
D001	Aqueous drug formulation containing 24 percent or more alcohol by volume. 261.21(a)(1)	Erythromycin gel 2 percent, Texacort solution 1 percent, Taxol injection
	Liquid drug formulations, with a flashpoint of less than 140° F or 60° C, except aqueous solutions containing less than 24 percent alcohol.	Flexible collodion - Flashpoint=45° C
	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
	Flammable aerosol propellants meeting the DOT definition of compressed gas. 261.21(a)(3)	Primatine aerosol
Corrosive
D002	Corrosive1	Any solution with pH less than or equal to 2. Any solution with pH greater than or equal to 12.5.
Reactive
D003	Reactive2	Reactive wastes are unstable under "normal" conditions. They can cause explosions, toxic fumes, gases, or vapors when heated, compressed, or mixed with water.
Toxic
D004	Arsenic	Any P012 listed waste, arsenic trioxide (also P012), Carbasone, Glycobiarosol, Thiacetarsamide
D005	Barium	Barium sulfate (used in radiology), barium sulfidel, barium hydroxide, barium chloride
D007	Chromium	Multiple mineral preparations, chromium, chromium trioxide, multiple trace element (also D010)
D009	Mercury	Any U151 listed waste. Any drug with thimerosal or phenylmercuric acetate (vaccines, eye drops, nasal spray, etc.).
D010	Selenium	Any U205 listed waste, dandruff shampoo, multiple mineral preparations.
D011	Silver	Silver sulfadiazine cream, silver nitrate (also D001), Silvadene, Argyrol S.S., Arzol silver nitrate (also D001)
D013	Lindane	Treatment of lice, scabies
D022	Chloroform	Not commonly seen
D024	M-cresol	Insulin with cresol

¹Most corrosive waste will be compounding chemicals. Although compounded pharmaceuticals are eligible for management under the Interim Pharmaceutical Waste Policy, the compounding chemicals themselves must be managed under the Washington dangerous waste regulations.

²Nitroglycerin is the only pharmaceutical that we are aware of that may be considered reactive. Most medical formulations of nitroglycerin are not reactive. Medical formulations of nitroglycerin that are not reactive are not considered P081 listed waste.