Thread: Whats the proper way to dispose of expired medications?

We have a company that picks up our expired meds or outdated samples with our sharps containers in the office. All of the pharmacies accept returns.
There are certain areas that have higher then trace amounts of meds in the ground waterand soil so flushing is supposed to be banned. It's hard to control /enforce it though. I guess you have to let your conscience dictate that.

If it is at work where we need to dispose of medications we have another person watch us wash them down the sink. At home we flush them down the toilet, we have a septic.

Laws vary by state.


From the EPA's site

http://www.epa.gov/ppcp/faq.html

How do I properly dispose of unwanted pharmaceuticals?

In February 2007, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy issued the first consumer guidance for the Proper Disposal of Prescription Drugs (pdf, 1pp, 95 KB) . Proper disposal of drugs is a straightforward way for individuals to prevent pollution.

RCRA does not regulate any household waste, which includes medications/pharmaceutical waste generated in a household. While discarded pharmaceuticals under the control of consumers are not regulated by RCRA, EPA encourages the public:

to take advantage of pharmaceutical take-back programs or household hazardous waste collection programs that accept pharmaceuticals
If there are no take-back programs near you,
contact your state and local waste management authorities (the disposal of household waste is primarily regulated on the state and local levels) with questions about discarding unused pharmaceuticals, whether or not these materials meet the definition of hazardous waste
follow any specific disposal instructions that may be printed on the label or accompanying patient information


http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/...p_disposal.pdf