Pharmaceutical Stakeholders Group

Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at a 'very high' or 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Pharmaceutical Universal Waste Stakeholders Group
Information and Meeting Schedule

In 2013, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) established a Pharmaceutical Universal Waste Stakeholders Group, comprised of professionals with broad pharmaceutical expertise, to assist in the development of the regulations to allow hazardous pharmaceutical wastes to be managed as a Universal Waste in Connecticut. The group met several times in 2013 and 2014 and DEEP had intended to begin drafting an amendment to Connecticut's Hazardous Waste Management Regulations providing for the regulation of discarded pharmaceuticals as Universal Waste. However, In a Proposed Rule dated September 25, 2015, EPA indicated that it intended to create a uniform, nationwide system for the management of discarded pharmaceuticals, and prohibited states from listing such pharmaceuticals as Universal Waste. As a result, the efforts of the Pharmaceutical Universal Waste Stakeholders Group were discontinued. However, the information pertaining to this stakeholder process is, for now, being preserved on this web page since it documents this significant stakeholder process, and because many of the resources and links provided below continue to be useful to those that are interested in the management of pharmaceutical waste in Connecticut. Background

On December 2, 2008, EPA public noticed a proposal to add hazardous pharmaceutical waste to the Universal Waste Rule (UWR) that was originally promulgated on May 11, 1995. The UWR modified the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act’s (RCRA) hazardous waste regulations (40 CFR Parts 260 through 265) by providing streamlined requirements for the collection, management and disposal of a group of hazardous wastes that are widely produced by many different types of businesses. EPA’s 2008 proposed rule was meant to facilitate the appropriate management and disposal of hazardous pharmaceutical wastes. Due to extensive and conflicting comments , and concern over the lack of notification and tracking requirements, EPA decided to not finalize the 2008 proposal. Instead, developed a new proposal for the sector-based management of hazardous waste pharmaceuticals which may not be as flexible as a universal waste designation.

Before 2008, DEEP has been actively working on the issues surrounding the proper management and disposal of hazardous waste pharmaceuticals. The Department provided comments to EPA in favor of their December 2008 proposal to add hazardous waste pharmaceuticals to the UWR. The Department is now advocating for change through a State-initiated universal waste listing. However, until promulgation of the proposed regulations, generators of hazardous pharmaceutical waste must manage such waste in accordance with Connecticut’s Hazardous Waste Management Regulations.

The Department will be performing the core drafting of the proposed regulations during the winter of 2013 to 2014. The draft proposed regulations will be examined by staff from the Department, the Legislative Commissioner’s Office and the Office of the Attorney General in the spring of 2014. The Department plans to revise the draft proposed regulations, as appropriate, during the summer of 2014, and public notice the draft proposed regulations in the fall of 2014.

Meeting Information

The Pharmaceutical Stakeholders Group held several meetings in 2013 and 2014. Agendas and other information associated with these meetings are provided below. For more information regarding these meetings or the information provided below, please contact Michele DiNoia by phone at 860-424-3816 or email her at michele.dinoia@ct.gov.

2014 Meetings	Agendas and Other Materials
11/12/14	Agenda
10/08/14	Agenda
9/10/14	Agenda
8/13/14	Agenda
7/9/14	Agenda Why a Generator Would Want Universal Waste Regulations to Apply to their Facility (PowerPoint Presentation by T.J. McCaustland of Stericycle)
6/11/14	Agenda Current Pharmaceutical Waste Liabilities, Future Relief (PowerPoint Presentation by Charlotte Smith of PharmEcology/Waste Management)
5/14/14	Agenda
4/9/14	Agenda Announcement of Public Comment Session
3/12/14	Agenda
2/5/14	Agenda Pharmaceuticals and the Universal Waste Rule (PowerPoint Presentation by Charlotte Smith of PharmEcology/Waste Management)
2013 Meetings	Agendas and Other Materials
12/11/13	Agenda Key Issues Responses from Stakeholders
11/13/13	Agenda Key Issues Document