Ask Recycling Rosie:
Disposing of Pharmaceuticals
Dear Recycling Rosie,
What is the safest way to dispose of old prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications? You shouldn’t flush them, right?
Dear Michelle,
RIGHT. Don’t flush pharmaceuticals. It used to be that those who wear white coats in their profession would tell patients it was fine to toss unused or expired medications down the toilet or drain, but happily most now understand this is a VERY bad idea. No matter whether the medication is liquid or solid, any pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter meds or personal care products sent down your pipes to domestic sewage systems will end up going directly into lakes, rivers or oceansbecause municipal wastewater treatment plants are not designed to remove those chemicals and compounds.
 So, flushing meds = bad. But getting these products out of your home to protect your family from accidental poisoning = good. Luckily for us in Boulder County, there are some great options to help avoid poisoning our families OR the environment. The best solution, of course, is to avoid wasting medications by buying only what you can use or need. If you are stuck with leftovers: 1. Ask your pharmacist if they will allow you to return unused medications, but be sure they use proper disposal methods. 2. Participate in community programs that collect unwanted meds. For upcoming collection dates in Boulder County, visit www.bouldercountywater.org and click the “Rx Disposal” link in the left-hand menu.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment also has a Colorado Medication Take-Back Pilot Project that provides secure collection boxes placed around the state. In Boulder County, there is a box at the King Soopers at 1650 30th St. in Boulder. Visit
www.cdphe.state.co.us/HM/medtakeback for more information. It’s important to note that this collection box will NOT accept controlled substances (but the local collection events will). 3. If none of the above approaches is an option, you can safely dispose of meds at home using the following tips from the health department:
- Liquid medications should be poured over kitty litter or another absorbent material. Once the absorbent is dry, seal it in a plastic bag and place it in the trash.
- Pills should be kept in their original containers. Fill the container with household glue, remove all personal information from the container, and place it in the trash once the glue has dried. The glue makes the pills unusable and deters people who look through the trash to find drugs for illicit use or “pharming.”
- Medicated patches can be cut into small strips and either placed in a container with glue as described above, or mixed with an unpleasant substance like used coffee grounds or kitty litter.
NOTE: Medical sharps (needles) should also be handled with care. Please DO NOT toss them in the trash can and absolutely NOT in the recycling bin (we do get them, believe it or not). For information on how to safely handle sharps, please visit our A to Z Recycling Guide at
www.ecocycle.org/htrg and scroll down to Sharps.
- Rosie
E-mail your recycling questions to Rosie at recycle@ecocycle.org with the subject line “Ask Rosie.” If we print your letter, we’ll send you a free Eco-Cycle® tote bag. Thanks for recycling!
© Copyright 2010 Eco-Cycle, Inc. All Rights Reserved
No part of this publication may be transmitted or reproduced in any form without the express permission of the publisher. |
