I have old perscription and over the counter meds that need to be disposed of. What is the most environmentally safe way to do this?
muddypuppyuk, that's exactly why I'm asking. Thanks for posting that info for the others to read.
Jessica H
Favorite Answer
Many pharmacies have prescription disposal programs. Flushing them down the toilet, pouring them down the sink, and throwing them in the trash can all result in the drugs ending up in the water supply. Call your local pharmacies to see who has a disposal program in place. Good luck!
muddypuppyuk
I think a lot of people have answered this question without understanding the true danger you were addressing. A little info for them.
Researchers from the U.S. EPA and the National Geological Survey have now found traces of antibiotics, birth control drugs, anti-depressants and even caffeine in many water samples taken across the country. Large animal farming operations and wastewater treatment plants release billions of gallons of contaminated wastewater into our environment every day. A large percentage of the drugs that are given to humans and animals pass through the body and wind up in this recycled wastewater and then in our drinking water.
As early as 2000, USA Today, in a news release, stated that "experts fear that even low levels of antibiotics fouling the nations water supply may help create super-bugs: micro organisms that have evolved to survive an antibiotic's lethal assault." And that these super-bugs may be causing 'tens of thousands' of deaths each year in the U.S.A., according to Abigail Salyers, an expert on antibiotic resistance at the University of Illinois.
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Don't flush them, your fiance is right. Water treatment plants don't remove these things. Take them to the pharmacy, I'm sure they have to dispose of old medicines frequently.
olympics junkie
They used to advise simply flushing meds that aren't needed, but recently they are finding drug residue in treated water, so now they say to contact the pharmacy where you got them & ask them. I think a lot of the pharmacies will accept them & dispose of them responsibly...
B.
fill the bottle with water so the pills will disolve in the bottle and throw the bottle away in the trash. that way if anyone goes through the trash they cant use the pills and they will still not enter the water supply.