Hazardous waste turnaround for a small-molecule pharma developer
Anonymized — clinical-stage small-molecule pharma
The challenge
A routine internal review surfaced multiple hazwaste issues — mislabeled accumulation containers, undocumented satellite accumulation areas, and a 90-day container about to go over. A regulator visit was on the calendar for the following month.
3
Weeks to restore full hazwaste compliance
0
Waste-related findings at regulator visit
30
Days notice before the scheduled inspection
100%
Of generators trained before inspection day
What we did
- 1
Completed an emergency waste stream re-profiling across the facility.
- 2
Re-labeled and consolidated all accumulation areas; documented every SAA.
- 3
Coordinated a compliant disposal event with the site's hazwaste vendor.
- 4
Rewrote the site's waste SOPs and trained all generators before the visit.
Before & after
Before
- Mislabeled accumulation containers across the facility
- Satellite accumulation areas (SAAs) undocumented and out of compliance
- 90-day container approaching regulatory limit
- No updated waste SOPs or trained generators on record
After
- All waste streams re-profiled, relabeled, and properly categorized
- Every SAA documented, signed, and compliant
- Emergency disposal event completed ahead of the regulator visit
- Updated SOPs deployed; all generators trained and signed off
The outcome
Full hazwaste compliance restored within 3 weeks.
Regulator visit resulted in zero waste-related findings.
Site transitioned to a recurring monthly EHS support engagement.