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The storage of waste medicines at a pharmacy or storage of waste at the premises of a medical, nursing or veterinary practice - paragraph 39 exemption

Topics:
Resource & Waste Policy, 
Waste management licensing exemptions (list)

A paragraph 39 exemption allows the secure storage at a pharmacy pending their disposal elsewhere of waste medicines which have been returned to the pharmacy from households or individuals. Paragraph 39 also allows the secure storage at the premises of a medical, nursing, or veterinary practice of waste produced in carrying on that practice.

Waste stream(s) permitted

Waste medicines returned from households or individuals to a pharmacy.

Medical, nursing, or veterinary practice waste produced in carrying on that practice.

Quantity

The total quantity of returned waste medicines at the pharmacy must not exceed 5 cubic metres at any one time.

The total quantity of waste stored at the premises of a medical, nursing, or veterinary practice must not at any time exceed 5 cubic metres.

Storage and location

Returned waste medicines at a pharmacy must not be stored for a period exceeding 6 months.

Wastes from medical, nursing and veterinary practices must be stored at the premises and must not be stored for a period exceeding 3 months.

What the legislation says

The full wording of the paragraph 39 exemption can be found in Schedule 2 of the Waste Management Licensing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003.

Relevant Objectives in relation to the disposal or recovery of waste are given in paragraph 4 of Schedule 3 to the Regulations.

Paragraph 39 is NOT required to be registered in accordance with the Waste Management Licensing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 (as amended)

For further information, please contact:-

  • Regulation Unit

Guidance

  • Paragraph 39 guidance
  • General guidance

Related content

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  • Land treatment for agricultural benefit or ecological improvement - paragraph 9 exemption
  • Operation of a scrap metal furnace under a Pollution Prevention Control (PPC) permit - paragraph 4 exemption
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  • The composting and storage of biodegradable waste - paragraph 13 exemption
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  • The deposit of borehole or excavated waste - paragraph 35 exemption
  • The deposit of waste arising from dredging inland waters or from clearing plant matter from inland waters - paragraph 25 exemption
  • The discharge of sanitary waste from a passenger train - paragraph 31 exemption
  • The disposal of specified wastes at the place of production in an incinerator - paragraph 29 exemption
  • The heating of metals in a furnace or other combustion chamber for the purpose of removing grease, oil or any other non-metallic contaminant - paragraph 44 exemption
  • The keeping or deposit of spent railway ballast - paragraph 34 exemption
  • The keeping or deposit of waste arising from peatworking - paragraph 33 exemption
  • The laundering or otherwise cleaning of waste textiles with a view to recovery or reuse - paragraph 20 exemption
  • The manufacture of finished goods from waste metal, plastic, glass, ceramics, rubber, textiles, wood, paper or cardboard, and the storage of those wastes - paragraph 15 exemption
  • The manufacture of products from waste, the treatment of waste soil or rock which is to be spread on land under paragraph 9 or 11, and the storage of waste which is to be submitted to the preceding activities - paragraph 14 exemption
  • The reclamation, restoration or improvement of land - paragraph 11 exemption
  • The recovery and storage of waste from a water treatment works or a sewage treatment works - paragraph 46 exemption
  • The recovery of scrap metal or the dismantling of depolluted end-of-life vehicles - paragraph 45 exemption
  • The recovery of silver from waste produced in connection with printing or photographic processing - paragraph 22 exemption
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  • The repair, refurbishment, and storage of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) - paragraph 49 exemption
  • The secure storage of waste batteries and accumulators - paragraph 52 exemption
  • The secure storage of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) - paragraph 50 exemption
  • The spreading, or storage and spreading of sludge on land which is not land used for agriculture - paragraph 10(a) exemption
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  • The temporary storage of garbage or tank washings from ships at a port - paragraph 36 exemption
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  • The waste management transitional arrangements for the treatment, keeping or disposal at any premises, of scrap metal or waste motor vehicles, which are to be dismantled pending the issue of a licence - paragraph 42 exemption
  • The waste management transitional arrangements to cover (up to 19 December 2004) the treatment, keeping or disposal of waste - paragraph 43 exemption
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