how do I safely get rid of old medicine? I know you shouldn't flush them down

[CTyankee]

toilet but can I empty them into plastic bags and put them in the garbage?

Thanks!

[DinahMoeHum]

1. Does your local recycling facility have a provision for this stuff?

Any pharmacies with such a program?

[CTyankee]

4. I'll ask! My pharmacy is in Stop and Shop where I regularly shop for food....

I'll bet they'll take them...

[PJMcK]

2. Sorry, why can't I flush them?

By the way, we have a septic system.

[Phoenix61]

8. They can/will get into the ground water nt

[PJMcK]

11. Of course.

Duh. Thanks.

[Mike Nelson]

3. You can brin them...

...to your local Fire Dept./Station or Hospital. They can dispose. I bring my mom's to the fire station. They should not be thrown in with regular garbage or flushed - the drugs get into the water supply/cycle.

[cloudbase]

5. My local Walgreens

has a secure disposal bin.

[CTyankee]

7. great! we have a Walgreens nearby...

[sheshe2]

6. We have a drop box at the police station...

no questions asked.

[central scrutinizer]

9. Same here

And, our hospice nurse took all unused meds after my wife died, mixed them up with liquid hand soap and kitty litter and dumped the whole mess in the garbage .

[hedda_foil]

10. We do too.

[Warpy]

12. Call your local waste management number

In most places, flushing is still the preferred way of disposing of them. A few places have incinerator programs up and running and will instruct you how to get them there if that's a possibility.

[longship]

14. Absolute DO NOT FLUSH MEDICINES!!

Never ever flush them.

Take them to your local pharmacy to be properly recycled or properly disposed.

[CTyankee]

15. OK, I just spoke to my pharmacist.

He said to fill the pill bottle with water, put the top back on them and dump them in the trash.

[sweetroxie]

13. My local police collects them

and I recently saw a machine that collects them in a local hospital.