Disposal of Medicine – Things You Need to Know

Most of us have a medicine cabinet full of unused or discarded medicines that are no longer required. These medicines have worked for you at one point; however, they are not needed anymore. Besides, your medicines are solely for you; other people cannot consume them without a proper prescription. If you have a cabinet full of expired items and unused old medicines, you need to dispose of them immediately.

Disposing of Unused Medicine

Disposing of unused medicine does not necessarily mean flushing them down the toilet or tossing them in a garbage can – it is a much more complicated process. However, the most effective method of disposing of unused medicine is through a Drug Take-Back Program.

· Drug Take-Back Program

Drug take-back programs are focused on collecting expired or unused medicinal items that anyone no longer needs. These items, when left unattended, can create unnecessary clutter and are a possible threat to human life. This program is conducted nationwide to ensure that medicine drop-off is safely carried out without any hindrance.

Moreover, a lot of communities also tend to conduct this program. You can check with your pharmacist for on-site medicine drop-off if you don’t want to wander around in search of a drug take-back program.

· Flushing Medicine

Some medicines have it written on their covers – to be flushed down the toilet. These medicines are specifically harmful to those who haven’t had a proper prescription. Therefore, a flush list has been issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that lists all the harmful medicines that need to be flushed.

If you can’t find the name of the medicine you want to dispose of on the flush list, do not flush it. Always wait for a drug take-back program.

· Dumping Medicine in a Bin

Prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines such as drops, liquids, pills, creams, and patches can be dumped in a bin. However, certain measures are needed to be taken to ensure the safety of other living beings. You need to remove the medicines from their actual packing and mix them with something that cannot be consumed, such as dirt or litter. This will ensure that it doesn’t appeal to anyone it’s not meant for. Then, you have to wrap it in a sealed bag or a container and throw it in the garbage.

Final Word

New Jersey Shredding is here to help you in this regard. You can dispose of your unused medicine with their assistance. All of this will be taken care of at a very reasonable price!