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Virginia Health Care Association | Virginia Center for Assisted Living

EPA Excludes ALFs from Hazardous Waste Pharmaceutical Rule

EPA Excludes ALFs from Hazardous Waste Pharmaceutical Rule

In a change from the proposed rule issued in 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has excluded assisted living facilities (ALFs) and continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) from the final rule governing the disposal of hazardous waste pharmaceuticals. Under the proposed rule, ALFs were included in the list of proposed long term care facilities prohibited from disposing pharmaceuticals down the toilet or drain.

NCAL and other assisted living advocacy groups objected to ALFs and CCRCs from being included in the list of affected entities arguing that it would be impossible to comply with the requirement since the facilities themselves are not responsible for medications used by residents.

A pre-publication copy of the final rule recommends that ALFs and CCRCs develop voluntary pharmaceutical collection programs. As a best practice, ALF residents are encouraged to follow the guidelines issue by the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy, the Food and Drug Administration, and the EPA for the disposal of unwanted household pharmaceuticals.

Read more: Assisted living gets a break on EPA hazardous waste pharmaceutical rule (mcknights.com, January 14, 2019)