Prevention
Do you have unwanted or expired medication in your home?
For years, residents have been told to flush old medications down the toilet or sink. This is not a good idea.
New research has found medications, hormones and other personal care products in rivers and streams around the country. These substances can adversely affect fish and wildlife. Wastewater treatment plants were not designed to remove these substances from wastewater, so it's important to keep them out of the sewer system. Proper Disposal: It's a No Drainer.
The Next One-Day Event
Medicine Cabinet Clean-Out Day
Friday, March 19th
from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
at WLSSD's Household Hazardous Waste Facility
2626 Courtland St. Duluth, MN
Expired or unwanted medications from residents can be brought in for free, safe disposal.
Follow these 3 easy steps:
1. Leave medication in original container. Do not cover medication information.
2. Keep out of reach of children before event.
3. Bring to WLSSD's drive-thru event!
Medication will be sorted by experts and disposed of properly. Residents may bring in their own unwanted or expired medication or unwanted medication from family members. For more information, call the WLSSD Hotline at (218) 722-0761.
If you cannot bring medication to a scheduled collection event, follow these steps for safe disposal of medication in the garbage.
- Keep medication in its original container. Cover over the patient's name with marker or scratch it out.
- Modify medication to discourage scavenging. Add a small amount of liquid to pills. Add charcoal, kitty litter, sawdust or spices to liquid medication. Create an unsightly mixture to discourage consumption.
- Seal container shut with strong tape.
- Place sealed container inside a non-transparent bag or container such as a paper bag. Do not hide medicines in actual food products.
- Discard the container in the garbage can as close to scheduled garbage pick-up as possible.
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| Scratch out the patient's name | Add liquid, sawdust or spices to destroy the product | Seal container with strong tape | Hide it in a non-transparent container or bag | Throw it away as close to trash pick-up as possible |
These guidelines follow the current recommendation by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
MPCA Pharmaceutical fact sheet
Medications can ONLY be accepted at the WLSSD Household Hazardous Waste Facility during special one-day collection events due to US drug laws.
Summary Guide to WLSSD's Medicine Cabinet Clean-Out Days (PDF)