Kevin Noel

How to Dispose of Expired Medications (2023 Checklist)

Are you unsure of how to properly dispose of expired medications in your household? Improper disposal can lead to negative outcomes for individuals, animals, and the environment. The DEA may even be involved depending on the prescription and disposal method. Don't worry, we have you covered with our comprehensive 2023 checklist for proper disposal of expired medications.

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How to Dispose of Expired Medications (2023 Full Checklist for Households)

Proper disposal of expired medications is essential. Improper disposal or storage can bring negative outcomes to individuals, animals, and the environment. Depending on the prescription and what you do with it - even the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) could be involved. This will serve as a complete checklist for anyone dealing with expired medications.

What Prescriptions to Dispose of and When

Any expired or unused medications that are no longer being used should be disposed of promptly.

Expired Medications Checklist

1. Do not leave unused medications in your cabinet

If you are no longer using your medications - make sure to promptly dispose of them. Leaving them laying around is dangerous because the wrong person can get ahold of medications not prescribed to them. Medications often conflict with other medications and could result in unintended consequences.

2. Check the Medications Label

Medication labels often have specific instructions for disposal and some may require special handling.

3.Check with Your Local Resources

It is common for your county government page to list out resources for free disposal bins and places to take your pharmaceuticals. For example, Humboldt County’s Government Website lists 6 locations that will take unused or unwanted medications. It is also common for police departments to have pharmaceutical waste disposal bins. I suggest searching (Your county name) + “household medication disposal” to find current or upcoming take back programs.

4. Properly Package your Waste

Depending on the solution you go with, make sure you properly package your waste. Many disposal bins require you to have emptied your medications into a ziplock bag before disposing them into the bins. If absolutely no take back programs are available and the medication’s label does not say otherwise, then follow FDA Guidelines for Disposal

1. Mix medications with an unappealing substance like dirt or used coffee grounds

(This will decrease the likelihood that it falls into the wrong hands or paws.)

2. Place the mixture, ideally in a container, but a plastic bag is okay.

3. Throw it away as trash

4. Make sure there is no personal information on the medication container and then throw that in the trash as well.

5. Remove All Personal Information

Ensure you remove all personal information from your prescription bottle, regardless of the method of disposal you use. This is important for privacy, security, and compliance!

6. Consider a Medical Waste Disposal Program

If other options are not feasible for you - consider using a mail back program. Many companies offer mail back programs for pharmaceutical waste. These include:

✔ Prepaid USPS return label, shipping box, and approved container

✔ Compliance tracking, notifications, and a certificate of destruction

✔ Sizes ranging from 1 to 15 gallons

FAQ Regarding Medications

Why are medicine bottles orange?

The material prevents ultraviolet light from degrading its contents.

Can I just flush my medications?

We would recommend against it - however the FDA does have a flush list for certain medications. (Updated 10/01/2020)

How do OSHA’s Standards Help Workers?

OSHA’s standards ensure employees have a safe work environment and require employers to put processes in place to improve safety and reduce the likelihood of injury.

What effect does Improper Disposal have on the Environment?

Even at extremely low levels of medication pollution, aquatic life has shown effects. Also, the drinking water of many major cities has shown compounds of medications. You can read more, including a study done by Puget Sound on Salmon, here.

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Eco Medical CEO

KEVIN NOEL

Sales Account Executive

Passionate about creating exposure around practical products and services. My goal is to aid California medical facilities in exploring a more local, affordable, and personable service for medical waste disposal.

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