Collection Procedure - Queensland, New South Wales, ACT, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia (1 June 2010)

From 19 October 2009 the following Protocol applies to pharmacies in Queensland, New South Wales, ACT, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia (from 1 June 2010) pharmacies and at wholesaler depots and waste disposal sites

PROTOCOL FOR PHARMACISTS

1. A RUM Project approved container (the container) will be delivered by the wholesaler to the participating pharmacy.
2. The container is to be kept in a section of the dispensary or in a room or enclosure in the pharmacy to which the public does not have access.  The container may be placed in a visible position, but out of reach of the public, as this will reinforce the message that unwanted medicines can be returned to the pharmacy and that the returned medicines will not be recycled.
3. Any medicines returned by consumers must not be recycled*.  Handling poisons is a professional responsibility, and whenever possible it is recommended that the pharmacist, or pharmacy intern, accepts the returned medicines and places them in the container. All medicines, including complementary and alternate medicines, received from consumers may be placed in the container.
4. Pharmacists should take reasonable steps to ensure any Schedule 8 medicines returned for disposal are recorded and destroyed in accordance with state/territory legislation. The destroyed medicines, having been rendered unusable, should then be dispersed within the container for disposal.
5. When accepting unwanted medicines from consumers, pharmacists may take the opportunity to review the medicines returned, especially if the consumer is a regular customer, and thus determine if further consultation is required
6. Needles, other Sharps and liquid cytotoxic products should not be placed in the container, but in a container specifically designed for such waste.
7. The container lid should be left to rest on the container until the container is almost full.
8. When the container is almost full, a replacement container should be ordered from the preferred wholesaler (via the Portable Data Entry (PDE) number provided), and the container lid firmly attached.
9. The wholesaler delivery person collects the “complete” container and the new container is placed in use.
   
   Pharmacies serviced by Wholesaler sub-contractors (that is Rural, Remote and Isolated pharmacies), must ensure a Consignment Note accompanies the container, which is returned via the customary collection routine.
   
   * This arrangement accords with internationally agreed guidelines on drug donations issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO) “Guidelines for Drug Donations” Ref. WHO/DAP/96.2

PROTOCOL AT THE WHOLESALER DEPOT

1. Full containers from pharmacies are received at the wholesaler depot. Containers are stored in a quarantine area, and palletised for collection by the appointed waste transport Agent. Wholesaler staff must not open containers.
2. Palletised containers will be collected by Agents who will also deliver new replacement containers to wholesaler depots.

 
PROTOCOL FOR WASTE DISPOSAL COMPANY
The appointed incineration company will receive the palletised containers from the transport Agent and at the earliest opportunity incinerate the containers and contents.

October 2009
The Protocol was prepared by the Standards Committee of the National return & Disposal of Unwanted Medicines Limited.