GOV.UK
Guidance
Waste exemption: T28 sort and denature controlled drugs for disposal
Allows pharmacies and other similar places to comply with the requirements of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 by denaturing controlled drugs (making them unsuitable for consumption).
Type of activity you can carry out
Includes when a pharmacy or veterinary surgery is required to denature controlled drugs before disposing of them.
Types of activity you can’t carry out
You can’t treat:
- any waste drugs that are hazardous waste
- controlled drugs that are waste at any other place than where the waste was produced
Types of waste you can treat
The waste codes are those listed in the List of Wastes (LoW) Regulations. You need to make sure your waste fits within the relevant waste code and description.
| Waste code | Type of waste |
|---|---|
| 180109 | Medicines from natal care, diagnosis, treatment or prevention of disease in humans |
| 180208 | Medicines from research, diagnosis, treatment or prevention of disease involving animals |
| 200132 | Medicines separately collected as municipal waste |
Quantity of waste you can treat
You can:
- store or treat up to 1 cubic metre of waste at any one time
- store waste for up to 6 months
Key conditions
Under this exemption you can only sort or denature controlled drugs before disposing of them.
Other things you need to know
You can store other returned or out of date medicines under the Non Waste Framework Directive exemption for temporary storage of waste at a collection centre. There is no need to register the Non Waste Framework Directive exemption.
Register this exemption
You need to register this exemption with us if you will meet the requirements:
Definitions
Controlled drug – a controlled drug specified in Schedules 1 to 5 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001.
Hazardous waste – see How to classify different types of waste
Published 28 April 2014