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Environment, Health and Safety

Sound environmental policy is central to maintaining Eisai's human health care (hhc) mission. This is why Eisai believes strongly in proper environmental management and safety. The company has long supported programs protecting our environment. To learn more about this, please view Eisai's Annual Environment and Social Report.

Commitment to Safe Disposal of Medical Materials and Waste

During the course of the research, discovery, and development of new and innovative treatments for debilitating diseases, Eisai uses chemicals, compounds, and materials (including live organisms) that could be hazardous if not properly handled. Eisai and all its employees abide by federal and state laws and regulations, and internal rules and procedures that regulate the handling of certain classes of these chemicals and compounds, and other hazardous materials. The company views global environmental protection as an important component of its business operations and strives to protect the environment. Eisai has put into place environmental protection policies and procedures that comply with and exceed local, state, federal, and international laws, regulations and agreements. Because these laws and regulations can vary widely, Eisai believes it is essential to engage in these voluntary efforts in the area of environmental stewardship. For example, Eisai disposes of its own pharmaceutical and medical waste through incineration whenever possible.

Safe Disposal of Medication

Eisai supports patient education on safe medication disposal. We support the SMARxT Disposal campaign sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, American Pharmacists Association, and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), which is designed to help patients dispose of their medicines with minimal impact on the environment. Through its support of SMARxT Disposal, Eisai is working to ensure consistent messaging for patients on the safe disposal of their medical waste.
Moreover, Eisai supports the use of the Sharps Disposal Guidance recently approved by PhRMA. This guidance takes into account laws and recommendations from various jurisdictions. It offers a broad range of recommendations to appropriately suit the needs of patients, healthcare workers, and waste management workers.

Eisai's Commitment to the Safe Disposal of Medical Sharps

The proper disposal of "sharps," needles and sharps devices used in the process of administering medication, is important not only for the environment but it is also a public health and safety issue. This means that home-generated sharps waste is a shared responsibility of everyone so that unwarranted "needle-sticks" don't occur, potentially exposing health care workers, waste management workers, and patients to harm. An example of Eisai's attention to the environment can be found with Eisai's agent, Fragmin® (dalteparin sodium injection). [Please see [Please see "Fragmin: Important Safety Information"] Currently, Eisai provides a self-retractable needle and "sharps" disposal container as part of its patient kit so patients can safely administer medication and dispose of their syringes.

Each Fragmin® patient kit provides patients with written instructions and an instructional DVD. The materials demonstrate the proper administration of the drug, but also proper disposal in the sharps disposal container. In addition, the self-retractable needle technology helps protect both patients and others from being stuck by a needle, if it is not properly disposed of in a sharps container.

This self-retractable needle encompasses "anti-needle-stick" technology that renders it a passive device. Patients or healthcare professionals administering Fragmin® do not need to proactively prompt the needle sheath. (The sheath covers the needle to protect the patient and others from "sticks.") With the Fragmin® syringe, a protective sheath automatically encompasses the needle in one action once the drug has been fully administered. This "anti-needle-stick" technology is designed to save healthcare workers, waste management workers, and patients from unwanted "sticks," which can result in many months of waiting for blood testing to ensure they have not contracted an illness.


The proper disposal of "sharps," needles and sharp devices used in the process of administering medication, is important not only for the environment but it is also a public health and safety issue. This means that home-generated sharps waste is a shared responsibility of everyone so that unwarranted "needle-sticks" don't occur, potentially exposing health care workers, waste management workers, and patients to harm. An example of Eisai's commitment to the environment and shared responsibility can be found with Eisai's clot-preventing agent, Fragmin®. [Please see "Fragmin: Important Safety Information"] Since the company began marketing Fragmin® in 2005, Eisai has provided a self-retractable needle and "sharps" disposal containers as part of its patient kit so patients can safely administer medication and dispose of their syringes.

Each Fragmin® patient kit provides patients with written instructions and an instructional DVD that not only demonstrates how to safely administer the drug, but also how to dispose of it in the disposal container. In addition, the self-retractable needle technology protects both patients and others from being stuck by a needle, if it is not properly disposed of in a sharps container.

This self-retractable needle encompasses "anti-needlestick" technology that renders it a passive device. Patients or healthcare professionals administering Fragmin® do not need to proactively prompt the needle sheath. (The sheath covers the needle to protect the patient and others from "sticks.") With the Fragmin® syringe, a protective sheath automatically encompasses the needle in one action once the drug has been fully administered. This "anti-needlestick" technology saves healthcare workers, waste management workers, and patients from unwanted "sticks" which can result in many months of waiting for blood testing to ensure they have not contracted an illness.

How Do I Dispose of Sharps?

Once the patient has finished administering the drug and the self-retractable needle is intact, the patient should then dispose of the needle in his/her sharps disposal container from the patient kits, or one purchased from the local pharmacy. The disposal container is one of firm plastic that cannot be pierced easily by the contents inside. After the sharps disposal container is full, or the patient has completed his/her pharmaceutical therapy, the patient should dispose of their sharps in an approved facility that will, in turn, have them incinerated.

State & Local Laws & Guidelines

Proper disposal of sharps medical waste is governed by various state and local laws. Eisai encourages all patients to dispose of their sharps medical waste in accordance with their respective state and local requirements and federal recommendations, as well as in accordance with the PhRMA Sharps Disposal Guidance. You may contact your local municipality to find out their disposal requirements. For example, the State of California prohibits the disposal of sharps medical waste in local household trash (landfills). Therefore, it is especially incumbent upon all patients in California to ensure their disposal containers are disposed of correctly. Facilities in which all patients may appropriately dispose of their medications, and are also permitted under California law, are as follows:


  • Pharmacies: Some pharmacies accept full sharps disposal containers in small quantities.

  • Hospitals (and other medical facilities such as clinics): Some hospitals, and other facilities such as clinics and physician offices, allow patients that are consistent users of their outpatient facilities to return sharps waste.

  • Localized Household Hazardous Waste Agencies: Patients can also contact their local household hazardous waste agency. Patients typically can return their sharps disposal containers through their local household hazardous waste program. You may find them online or through your local directory. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that state and local agencies offer disposal through a variety of ways, permanent collection, special collection days, or through specified business collection sites.

  • Mail-back services: Some patients prefer to mail back their sharps waste to a facility that is approved to handle such waste. A list of such facilities may be found at the CDC web site under your respective state (http://www.cdc.gov/needledisposal) or, if you are a California resident, at the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) web site.
    http://www.cdph.ca.gov/certlic/medicalwaste/Documents/MedicalWaste/SharpsMailBackList.pdf


    For additional information, Eisai recommends reviewing the EPA website at http://www.epa.gov/osw/nonhaz/industrial/medical/disposal.htm or, in California, the CalRecycle website at http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/HomeHazWaste/Sharps/Household.htm.

    For a summary of most state, and some local laws, please visit the Centers for Disease Control website at http://www.cdc.gov/needledisposal.


    • What are the obligations of health care facilities or practitioners?

    Many federal and state laws, regulations, and guidances regulate sharps and other medical waste. A facility or practitioner's office that creates or receives sharps or other medical waste for disposal must follow varying state and federal laws that are governed by the EPA, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Drug Enforcement Agency and their respective state counterparts. Providers and facilities should contact the EPA www.epa.gov or the FDA at www.fda.gov. Moreover, the providers should contact their respective state environmental or waste disposal agency to ensure compliance with appropriate laws.

    Click here to view Eisai's Sharps Disposal Plan, which was filed with the State of California and is posted in accordance with Minnesota law. For more information on proper disposal of medicines or the SMARxT Disposal program, please check their website at www.smarxtdisposal.net.

    Eisai is pleased to accept comments or suggestions on ways to improve its sharps plan. Please send any comments and suggestions to cher_gonzalez@eisai.com.


    Eisai's Annual Environment and Social Report
    Eisai Sharps Disposal Plan

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