If you have medication that has expired, or if you did not finish a prescription, you may be tempted to dispose of the unwanted pills in the trashcan or by flushing them down the toilet. However, both of these options can be dangerous.
If you toss pills in the trash, someone could consume them. If you flush pills down the toilet you risk contaminating the water supply.
The best way to get rid of unwanted medication is to use the prescription medicine “Take-Back” programs that are offered by many cities and counties. Local pharmacies may also be willing to accept your unwanted medication (call them before bringing your unwanted medication to the store to be sure).
If neither of the above options is available to you, follow these steps to dispose of unwanted medications:
- Remove pills from their bottles. This will make it harder for anyone rummaging through the trash to identify the medication.
- Put pills in a bag with something undesirable, such as used kitty litter, mud, or coffee grounds. DO NOT mix pills or other medication with household cleaners, as this could cause a chemical reaction to occur.
- Seal the bag and throw it in the trash.
