Household Disposal
If you can’t find a convenient take-back program, you can throw medicines out with your household trash. Safe home disposal protects the environment. It also protects the community, keeping substances out of the hands of those who may abuse them.
How to dispose of unused medications at home:
- Use a drug disposal pouch. These bags contain a substance that deactivates the medication. Pour the medicine in the pouch, add warm tap water until the bag is about half full, gently shake, seal, and toss in the trash.
- DIY. Mix the medicine with unpleasant garbage such as kitty litter or used coffee grounds (don’t crush pills or capsules). Place the mixture into a sealed plastic bag or other sealed container. Toss it in the trash. Remove your Rx number and personal information from the medicine bottle. Toss or recycle the container or wash thoroughly and use for small household items.