Medicine Disposal

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!

Follow these steps for safe disposal of medication.

• 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 salt, charcoal or spices to liquid medication. Create a pungent, 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.

1	2	3	4	5
Scratch out the patient's name	Add liquid, salt 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. Watch for more information about upcoming events.