096 - Pharma Waste Management, Sustainability, What Happens to Sharps, Disposal and Zero Waste with Heather Johnson

What this episode covers

Heather Johnson, CEO of Ingenium, explains the complexities of pharmaceutical waste management, distinguishing between biological sharps that require autoclaving and chemical sharps that often require incineration. She details Ingenium's 'orphan chemical' program, which connects large pharmaceutical companies with unused reagents to small biotech startups, thereby reducing hazardous waste volume. Johnson also discusses 'zero waste' strategies, including waste-to-energy technologies and fuel blending, as alternatives to landfills, while noting that compacting is a logistical optimization rather than a treatment.