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Background: An average community pharmacy in Lagos State, Nigeria, stocks between 2000 to 4000 drug items. A significant amount of wastes from these have been found in both underground and drinking water. Poor management of pharmaceutical wastes exposes the community to toxic environmental effects.

Objective: This study assessed the management of pharmaceutical wastes by community pharmacies in Lagos State, in order to provide information for improved waste management.

Methods: The cross-sectional study among the Community Pharmacists recruited participants through social media platforms or in person at the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria office during their visit.

Results: A total of 211 respondents completed the survey, out of 74.4 % indicated awareness of proper pharmaceutical waste management. Storage of pharmaceutical wastes was found to be both in the pharmacy and other specified places. About 41.7 % of respondents were aware of the periodic requests for waste submission by the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, while 48.3 % were unaware. A percentage of 71.6 % respondents generated wastes outside pharmaceutical wastes (chemicals, sharps, infectious) while 23.7 % did not. Respondents (32.7 %) generated wastes monthly, not regularly (23.7 %), quarterly (17.5 %) and yearly (14.7 %). About 43.1 % disposed their wastes themselves, while 21.3 % of the respondent disposed via regulatory agencies.

Conclusion: The level of awareness of appropriate pharmaceutical waste management was high, but the practice of standard disposal methods was low. Measures are needed to improve pharmaceutical waste management in Lagos State.

Keywords: Community Pharmacists, Pharmaceutical waste,
management, disposal