How to Recycle Unused Medications
Prescription and over-the-counter medications requiring specialized disposal to prevent water contamination, drug abuse, and accidental poisoning. Americans dispose of 4.4 billion unused prescription drugs annually, with only 15% properly disposed through take-back programs. Improper disposal creates serious environmental and public health risks.
- 1Keep medications in original prescription bottles with labels intact
- 2Remove or black out personal information on labels for privacy
- 3Do not remove tablets from blister packs or capsules from bottles
- 4Keep liquid medications sealed in original containers
- 5Gather all expired or unused medications from medicine cabinets
- 6Separate controlled substances (narcotics) for special handling
- 7Check for DEA Take Back Day events (twice yearly nationwide)
- DEA National Take Back Day events (April and October)
- Pharmacy drop-off boxes (CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid)
- Police stations with medication disposal programs
- Hospital and clinic take-back programs
- Mail-back programs from manufacturers
- Long-term care facilities with disposal services
NEVER flush medications down toilets or drains unless specifically listed on FDA flush list. Controlled substances must go to DEA-authorized collection sites only. Remove patches and inhalers completely before disposal. Some facilities require removal of personal information from labels.
Pharmaceutical contamination affects 41 million Americans' drinking water supply. Trace amounts of hormones, antibiotics, and psychiatric drugs persist through water treatment, causing antibiotic resistance and endocrine disruption in wildlife. Proper disposal prevents groundwater contamination and reduces drug diversion - unused opioids are source of 70% of misused prescription drugs.
- Request smaller prescription quantities to reduce waste
- Use mail-order pharmacies for better quantity control
- Donate unexpired, sealed medications to programs serving developing countries
- Use medication management apps to track expiration dates
Accepted
- Prescription medications in any form (pills, liquids, patches)
- Over-the-counter medications and supplements
- Pet medications and veterinary drugs
- Expired medications regardless of age
- Controlled substances (at DEA-authorized sites only)
- Medical samples and trial medications
Not Accepted
- Needles, syringes, or other sharps (require separate disposal)
- Chemotherapy drugs (need specialized hazardous waste disposal)
- Empty medication containers (recycle as plastic if clean)
- Thermometers and medical devices
- Illegal drugs or street drugs
Estimated value: $0 - free disposal at most take-back programs
- Controlled substances with abuse potential
- Hormones affecting endocrine systems
- Antibiotics contributing to resistance
- Chemotherapy agents (cytotoxic)
- Heavy metals in some formulations
Is it safe to throw medications in household trash?
Only as last resort with FDA-recommended preparation: mix with unpalatable substances like coffee grounds, seal in container, remove personal info from labels. However, take-back programs are much safer and environmentally responsible.
Which medications can be safely flushed down the toilet?
Only medications on FDA's flush list - typically high-risk narcotics like fentanyl patches, morphine, oxycodone when no take-back option exists. This list contains fewer than 15 specific medications.
How do I dispose of liquid medications like cough syrup?
Keep in original container, seal tightly, take to take-back events. If unavailable, pour into cat litter or sawdust in sealed bag before trash disposal. Never pour down drains.
Can I donate unused prescription medications?
In the US, only a few states allow prescription drug donation programs for specific facilities. Most unused prescriptions must be destroyed. Some programs accept unexpired, sealed over-the-counter medications for international aid.
What should I do with chemotherapy drugs?
Never put in regular medication disposal. Contact prescribing oncologist or hospital pharmacy - these require specialized hazardous waste disposal due to cytotoxic properties.
How often should I clean out my medicine cabinet?
Check expiration dates every 6 months. Most medications lose potency after expiration but don't become dangerous. However, tetracycline antibiotics and some liquid medications can become toxic when expired.