Why Proper Medicine Disposal Matters & How to Do It Responsibly
You may have grown up thinking that flushing old, expired, or unwanted medicine down the toilet or sink was an acceptable way to dispose of it. Maybe you saw it on TV or watched a family member do it. But why did this become such a common habit? Is flushing really the easiest or safest option? Let’s take a closer look.
For many years, there were no clear guidelines for how to properly dispose of unwanted medicine and drugs. Most people relied on three methods of disposal: throwing it in the trash, flushing it, or pouring it down the sink. Now, after decades of research, we know that these methods are not only outdated but are harmful to human health, wildlife, and the environment.
Drugs can get into the environment several ways. When flushed they pass through the sewage system and enter wastewater treatment facilities (USGS)(EPA). However, wastewater treatment facilities are not built to remove compounds in medicine. As a result, these substances will end up in rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water that may eventually become sources of drinking water. Medicine flushed through septic systems can also seep into groundwater.
Throwing medicine in your landfill bin poses similar risks. Once in a landfill, the medicine can dissolve and trickle into the leachate (toxic liquid formed by waste in landfills). This leachate also ends up processed through wastewater treatment facilities and may end up in bodies of water.
Medicine can harm aquatic species and wildlife when they ingest or swim in contaminated water. This can disrupt growth, reproduction, behavior, and organ function in animals.
In 2000, the United States Geological Survey detected pharmaceuticals in water bodies across the country (USGS). This raised national concern about improper disposal of medicine and its impact on water quality, the environment, and human health. Seven years later, the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) worked with the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and released the first official consumer guidelines for proper medicine disposal, expressing concerns about harm to the environment and human health. California took this further in 2021 by implementing SB 212, the state’s first stewardship program requiring manufacturers, distributors, and importers of pharmaceuticals to fund and operate take-back programs for safe disposal of medications and sharps.
From that point on, the proper disposal methods for medicine and drugs were to use take-back and mail-back programs. Trashing and flushing are now discouraged and considered a last resort disposal option, but only if take-back programs are unavailable. In fact, if the take-back and mail-back options are unavailable, the FDA has a Flush List for certain medicines which allowed to be flushed down the toilet. This is due to the fact that these medicines are often misused, abused, and can be dangerous and potentially life-threatening if ingested by children, adults, or pets.
If you live in the RethinkWaste service area, you have several convenient and safe disposal options for unwanted or expired medications:
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- Drop off accepted non-controlled medications safely and responsibly.
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- San Mateo County hosts many secure kiosks where you can drop off medications for proper disposal.
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- If you prefer a convenient at-home option, mail-back supplies are available to send medications safely through the postal system.
Proper medicine disposal may seem like a small step, but it has a big impact. By choosing take-back or mail-back programs, you help keep harmful chemical compounds out of our waterways, protect wildlife, and reduce potential risks to human health. It’s a simple action that supports a cleaner, healthier community. Consider gathering any unused or expired medications in your home and take advantage of one of the many disposal options available to you. When we each do our part, we create a safer environment for all human and non-human life.