Cytotoxic waste refers to materials contaminated with chemotherapy drugs that are toxic to cells and potentially carcinogenic. This includes used vials, syringes, and any materials that contacted these drugs.
Why incineration works well:
Complete destruction: High-temperature incineration (above 1100°C) completely destroys the molecular structure of chemotherapy drugs, rendering them harmless.
Regulatory requirement: In the UK, cytotoxic waste must be incinerated at specially licenced facilities – it’s the only approved disposal method because other treatments cannot guarantee complete destruction of these dangerous compounds.
No residual hazard: Proper incineration eliminates any remaining toxicity, protecting workers and the environment from exposure to these potent substances that remain hazardous even in tiny quantities.
