Pharmacy Groups Take a Stand: Opposing Environment Agency’s Controversial Plans to Raise Waste Charges

The Environment Agency (EA) plans to raise charges for waste activities, and this has caused concern among pharmacy organizations. Community Pharmacy England (CPE) believes these new fees will add stress to an already struggling sector. The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) goes even further, calling the proposals “outrageous.”

Both groups expressed their strong opposition to the EA’s plans set to start in April 2025. These changes include new charges for activities where the EA currently does not recover its costs, like registering waste exemptions. The EA also wants to update hourly rate charges that it claims are not covering full costs during unplanned events and pollution incidents.

One major point of contention is a proposed £56 fee for pharmacies to register waste exemptions, which would need to be renewed every three years. CPE argued that NHS community pharmacies cannot pass these costs onto patients since their services are funded by the government.

The NPA echoed this worry, stating that funding cuts have left pharmacies in a delicate financial situation. They simply cannot manage additional expenses that they cannot transfer to their patients.

CPE also estimated that if every community pharmacy registered for the exemption in the first year, it would cost the sector at least £900,000. This figure would only increase over time due to inflation.

Another proposal involves a “compliance band charge” for pharmacies that register under the T28 waste exemption. This exemption is about properly disposing of controlled drugs, which pharmacies must do to follow regulations. Both CPE and NPA believe NHS pharmacies shouldn’t be subjected to this charge since they are already heavily regulated.

CPE emphasized that NHS community pharmacies cannot handle more burdens unless they are funded by the government. They warned that these charges could push the already strained sector further towards breaking point.

In a statement, Gareth Jones from the NPA criticized charging pharmacies for routine waste management tasks. He pointed out that pharmacies routinely dispose of expired medications and have established procedures for doing so. He argued that while it’s important for the government to tackle illegal waste dumping, pharmacies should be exempt from these new charges. They play a crucial role in safe drug disposal, preventing potential hazards to the public.

According to EA data, illegal waste activities cost the public and legitimate businesses almost £1 billion every year. A recent survey found that 18% of waste (about 34 million tonnes) could be managed illegally at some point in the waste cycle. The EA cited concerns that some operators abuse waste exemptions to hide illegal activities, posing a risk of pollution and community harm.

The EA’s efforts aim to enhance monitoring of waste exemptions and uphold better environmental standards. They argue that this is necessary to deter criminals in the waste management area and comply with the government’s waste strategy goals. Additionally, a study revealed that pharmaceutical substances were found in many rivers, raising concerns about environmental impacts and the need for stricter regulations.