Don't let the fact that there isn't a universal way to easily dispose of old pharmaceuticals stop you from cleaning out your medicine cabinet. If you're willing to do a little bit of homework, you can learn how to responsibly get rid of expired or unwanted pills, capsules, and other prescription drugs.
One golden rule: Don't flush them down the toilet or pour them down the drain. While flushing is an effective way to keep prescription drugs out of the wrong hands, studies show that tiny amounts of pharmaceuticals are making their way into our streams, rivers, and lakes.
Scientists are studying how their presence impacts aquatic species (especially fish and frogs), whether it's contributing to the rise in antibiotic resistant bacteria, and if there are any health implications for humans (so far there is no evidence of adverse health effects).
For now, you can make a difference by properly disposing of your unneeded medicines. Here is some general information (adopted from several sources) to get you started. You might also want to check with your state's local environmental website for specific guidelines because rules vary depending on where you live and what kinds of meds you're trying to unload. For example, there are strict regulations for disposing of controlled substances.
- Your best bet is to bring old pharmaceuticals to a take-back program if you can. How to find one? Ask your pharmacy if it will accept unused medicine for proper disposal. Costco members can bring unwanted medications to one of its pharmacies. Check with your local government to see if it's hosting an event to collect old prescription drugs. Search Earth 911's database for programs in your neighborhood.
- Call your local household hazardous waste collection program to see if you can drop off unused pharmaceuticals. Find it on Earth 911's website.
- If the above options don't work, then you'll have to throw old medicines in the trash. Be sure to remove all personal info before chucking bottles to avoid identity theft. Experts suggest making medicines unusable before trashing so they don't end up in the wrong hands. Some ideas? Crush pills or dissolve capsules in water. Mix in with kitty litter, coffee grounds, or other unappealing kitchen waste. Add salt, ashes from your fireplace, dirt, charcoal, or spices to liquids. Use duct tape on any containers and place in a sealed bag before tossing in the trash so your kids or pets won't get accidentally poisoned.
0 comments:
Post a Comment