{
  "abstract": "Background and Importance Hospitals are major waste generators, to the extent that if the global healthcare sector were a country, it would rank fifth in emissions. 1 This waste, due to its volume and nature, presents challenges such as high variability, hazardousness and complexity in treatment. Pharmaceutical residues are particularly complex and environmentally risky.In our setting, healthcare waste is classified into different categories based on its nature and hazardousness. Medicines fall under Group IV (hazardous healthcare waste) and must be disposed of in specific containers, differentiated into cytotoxic and non-cytotoxic.Aim and Objectives As part of the environmental sustainability improvement framework of a third-level hospital’s Pharmacy Department (PD), the creation of indicators for weight, volume, and density of non-cytotoxic drugs disposed of in selective containers was proposed. The goal was to assess efficiency and minimisation of waste generation, ensuring proper treatment and reducing environmental exposure.Material and Methods Indicators were calculated in relation to PD activity. Data on waste weight and volume disposed of in specific containers (2022–2024) and annual dispensed medication units were collected. Reference values and acceptance limits were defined (mean waste weight 2022–2023 ± SD). Indicators included:Weight (g/unit dispensed)Volume (cm3/unit dispensed)Density (g/cm3/year)Results The values for waste disposal indicators were as follows: Year Weight (g/unit dispensed) Volume (cm3/unit dispensed) Density (g/cm3) 2022 0.329 0.196 1.679 2023 0.255 0.165 1.549 2024 0.265 0.185 1.437 Acceptance Limits:Weight: 0.240 – 0.344 g/unitVolume: 0.158 – 0.202 cm3/unitDensity: 1.522 – 1.706 g/cm3 The density value for 2024 was below the acceptance limit.Conclusion and Relevance For each dispensed medication unit, we are generating increasingly voluminous and lighter waste, indicating improper segregation. Items of lower density are being disposed of in the selective pharmaceutical container, even though they should be classified in other groups and treated differently (eg, cardboard packaging, plastic blisters, gloves, masks, paper etc). In this context, measures are being taken to optimise the waste management process: introducing containers to separate and dispose of paper and plastic, providing specific training on healthcare waste handling for PD staff and creating an infographic for proper disposal guidance.References and/or Acknowledgements 1. Health care’s climate footprint. Washington, DC: HCWH; 2019.Conflict of Interest No conflict of interest",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Hospital Clínic De Barcelona, Pharmacy Department, Barcelona, Spain"
      ],
      "name": "Mm Placeres"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Hospital Clínic De Barcelona, Pharmacy Department, Barcelona, Spain"
      ],
      "name": "M Castellà"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Hospital Clínic De Barcelona, Pharmacy Department, Barcelona, Spain"
      ],
      "name": "AM Marin"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Hospital Clínic De Barcelona, Ambiental Services, Barcelona, Spain"
      ],
      "name": "G Pereda"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Hospital Clínic De Barcelona, Pharmacy Department, Barcelona, Spain"
      ],
      "name": "D Soy"
    }
  ],
  "title": "2SPD-004 Non-cytotoxic pharmaceutical residues management: development and implementation of environmental management indicators in the pharmacy department",
  "uid": "24f9f39f-8ba4-58bd-ae8d-2b4566494607"
}