Orange County Receives National Award for Pharmaceutical Waste Outreach Program

Orange County Receives National Award for Pharmaceutical Waste Outreach Program

Orange County, FL - Orange County Government's Environmental Protection Division has received the 2026 Best Outreach Program Award from the North American Hazardous Materials Management Association for an innovative outreach program designed to help small healthcare facilities properly manage hazardous pharmaceutical waste.

The national award recognizes the Division for developing a user-friendly digital questionnaire that made compliance outreach more efficient, accessible and effective. The program focused on keeping hazardous pharmaceutical waste out of the environment.

"When pharmaceutical waste is not managed properly, it can contribute to toxic pollution in our lakes, rivers and groundwater," said Aimée Krivan, Senior Environmental Specialist with Orange County's Pollution Prevention program. "Helping facilities understand their responsibilities is one way we can reduce that risk before it reaches the environment."

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, healthcare workers at small healthcare facilities are often unfamiliar with hazardous waste management requirements. Following the initial questionnaire, Orange County staff continued engaging facilities through calls, emails and in-person assistance.

Orange County earned NAHMMA's 2026 Best Outreach Program Award for an innovative education campaign that helps small healthcare providers safely manage hazardous pharmaceutical waste. The program combines practical compliance tools with direct outreach to improve environmental protection, reduce pollution risks, and support regulatory compliance.

For more information about Orange County's Environmental Protection Division, visit OCFL.net/Environment.

About Orange County Government: Orange County Government strives to serve its residents and guests with integrity, honesty, fairness and professionalism. Located in Central Florida, Orange County includes 13 municipalities and is home to world-famous theme parks, one of the nation's largest convention centers and a thriving life science research park. Seven elected members make up the Board of County Commissioners, including the Mayor, who is elected countywide. For more information, please visit www.OCFL.net or go to Orange County Government's social media channels.

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