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Medication
Accepted at 7 locations
Medications are biological compounds used for the treatment of infections and diseases that require specialized disposal methods to protect public health and the environment.
Material Details
Also known as: Prescription Medication, Medicines
Parent material: Medication
Accepted Locations
Last updated on June 15, 2026 by Green Star GM
Last updated on June 9, 2026 by Green Star GM
Last updated on June 5, 2026 by Green Star GM
Last updated on June 15, 2026 by Green Star GM
Last updated on June 15, 2026 by Green Star GM
Last updated on June 15, 2026 by Green Star GM
Last updated on June 15, 2026 by Green Star GM
About Medication
What it is
A medicine may become unwanted for many reasons: it expired; it wasn't tolerated; it didn't work; the patient didn't need it anymore. Proper disposal is critical because it can help to prevent accidental poisoning, substance abuse, and contamination of water resources. Water treatment plants are generally not equipped to remove medicines, making responsible disposal essential.
How it’s recycled
Medications removed from take-back boxes are destroyed by an outside processor. Collected drugs are incinerated as recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to prevent potential contamination of water sources. Medications are not recycled in the traditional sense but are safely destroyed through controlled incineration.
How to prepare it
Gather any unused or expired prescriptions and bring them in their original bottles or in a clear, sealed bag, and be sure to remove any labels on the bottles or use a permanent marker to black out personal health information. Liquid medications should be kept in their original bottle, and if the bottle is cracked or leaking, pour it into a sealed plastic container and label it. Don't crush pills when preparing for disposal.
Common mistakes
A prevalent common mistake is flushing unused or expired medications down the toilet, which can critically contaminate the water supply, seriously affecting aquatic life and eventually humans through water consumption. Another standard error is discarding medications in the trash casually, which potentially allows drugs to fall into the wrong hands, leading to accidental consumption by children, pets, or wildlife with grievous consequences.
Environmental impact
Pharmaceuticals entering the environment through flushing or other means negatively affect aquatic ecosystems, including fish and animal populations. Some pharmaceuticals in the environment increase the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that, annually, at least two million illnesses and 23,000 deaths in the U.S. are caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Pharmaceuticals can have a significant impact on the health of organisms and ecosystems, causing behavioral change, hormone disruption and toxicity.
Did you know?
A large US Environmental Protection Agency study examining wastewater treatment plants revealed at least one active pharmaceutical ingredient in every effluent sample tested.
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