Pharma Waste Shredding: How to Destroy Rejected Tablets, Strips and Packaging
By the Arc Enterprise engineering team, Vadodara · Updated
Short answer
Pharma plants shred rejected and expired tablets, blister strips, cartons, labels and printed packaging so the material cannot be reused, resold or misused before disposal. A low-speed double shaft pharma shredder with an enclosed hopper is normally used, sized to the plant’s daily reject quantity, and the shredded output then goes for authorised disposal or recycling.
What pharma plants shred
- Rejected or expired tablets and capsules
- Blister strips and alu-alu packs
- Printed cartons, labels, leaflets and foils (to prevent misuse of artwork)
- Rejected packaging material from line clearance and changeovers
Why a dedicated pharma shredder
Printed packaging and rejected stock carry the company’s brand and batch details. Shredding makes them unusable, which protects against counterfeiting and misuse, and reduces the volume going to disposal.
An enclosed hopper, low-speed cutting and a collection bin keep dust and fragments contained and make the machine easy to clean between batches.
How to size a pharma shredder
- Daily reject quantity (kg/day) and how many hours the shredder will run
- Mix of material: tablets only, or strips, cartons and foils as well
- Required output size
- Where it will be installed and how material will be fed
Disposal after shredding
Shredding is a step before disposal, not a replacement for it. Shredded pharmaceutical waste should be handed to an authorised waste handler as per your plant’s pollution control board authorisation and internal SOPs.
Frequently asked questions
Can a pharma shredder destroy blister packs?
Yes. A double shaft pharma shredder shreds PVC and aluminium blister strips along with the tablets inside them.
Where can I buy a pharma shredder in Gujarat?
Arc Enterprise manufactures pharma shredders in Vadodara, Gujarat and supplies them to pharma plants in Vadodara, Ankleshwar, Dahej, Ahmedabad and across India.