Cruise ships should use only such inks, toners and printing/copying cartridges that contain non-hazardous chemical components. None of these cartridges, or their components should be disposed of by discharge into the marine environment. In recognition of the industry's goal of waste minimization, these cartridges should, whenever possible, be returned to the manufacturer for credit, recycling, or for refilling.
Industry Goal: To return photo copying and laser printer cartridges for recycling.
Handling Method:
Wherever possible, photo copying and laser printer cartridges will be collected, packaged and returned for recycling.
E. Unused And Outdated Pharmaceuticals
Discussion
In general ships carry varying amounts of pharmaceuticals. The pharmaceuticals carried range from over-the-counter products such as anti-fungal creams to prescription drugs such as epinephrine. Each ship stocks an inventory based on its itinerary and the demographics of its passenger base. All pharmaceuticals are managed to ensure that their efficacy is optimized and that disposal is done in an environmentally responsible manner.
When disposing of pharmaceuticals the method used must be consistent with established procedures. Pharmaceuticals and medications which are off specification or which have exceeded their shelf-life, and stocks that are unused and out of date, cannot be used for patients and therefore must be removed from the ship. Further, each regulatory jurisdiction has a posting of listed pharmaceuticals that must be considered hazardous waste once the date has expired or the item is no longer considered good for patient use.
Through onboard management of the medical facility, stocks of such listed pharmaceuticals are returned to the vendor prior to date of expiration. Pharmaceuticals that are being returned and which have not reached their expiration date are shipped using ordinary practices for new products.
Safety and Health
The handling of all expired listed pharmaceuticals must be in accordance with established procedures and all personnel handling this waste must receive appropriate training in the handling of hazardous materials. As guidance, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a report that clarifies the fact that residuals, such as epinephrine, found in syringes after injections are not considered an acutely hazardous waste by definition and may be disposed of appropriately in sharps containers. All Universal Precautions will be adhered to when handling sharps.
Industry Goal: To ensure that unused and/or outdated pharmaceuticals are effectively and safely disposed.
Handling Method 1:
Establish a reverse distribution system for returning unexpired, unopened non-narcotic pharmaceuticals to the original vendor.
Handling Method 2:
Appropriately destroy narcotic pharmaceuticals onboard ship in a manner that is witnessed and recorded.
Han dling Method 3:
Land listed pharmaceuticals in accordance with local regulations. Listed pharmaceuticals are a hazardous waste having chemical compositions which prevent them from being incinerated or disposed of through the ships sewer system. Listing of such pharmaceuticals may vary from state to state.
Handling Method 4:
Dispose of other non-narcotic and non-listed pharmaceuticals through onboard incineration or landing ashore.
F. Fluorescent And Mercur Vapor Lamp Bulbs
Discussion
The recycling of fluorescent lights and high intensity discharge (HID) lamps is a proven technology capable of reliably recovering greater that 99 percent of the mercury in the spent lights. This is done by using a crush-and-sieve method. In this process, the spent tubes are first crushed and then sieved to separate the large particles from the mercury containing phosphor powder. The phosphor powder is collected and processed under intense heat and pressure. The mercury is volatized and then diluted to the required purity.
