What to Do with Extra and Leftover Medications:

Safe Disposal Tips for Your Health and the Environment

Many households end up with leftover medications—whether over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription—after an illness or change in treatment. It’s important to know how to properly dispose of unused medications to prevent health risks and protect the environment. Improper disposal, such as throwing medications in the trash or flushing them down the toilet, can lead to environmental contamination and accidental misuse.

Why Proper Disposal Matters

Unused medications that are kept around the house can pose significant risks. Here are a few reasons why safe disposal is so important:

• Preventing Accidental Poisoning: Leftover medications, especially opioids or medications for chronic conditions, can be dangerous if accidentally taken by children, pets, or even adults who might take the wrong dose.
• Avoiding Misuse and Abuse: Prescription medications, especially painkillers, can be targets for misuse. Safely disposing of them reduces the risk of these drugs getting into the wrong hands.
• Protecting the Environment: Medications that are flushed down the toilet or thrown away can contaminate the water supply and soil, affecting wildlife and public health. Wastewater treatment plants are not always able to remove pharmaceutical substances from water.

How to Safely Dispose of Medications

1. Take Advantage of Drug Take-Back Programs: The safest way to dispose of your unused or expired medications is to use a drug take-back program. Our Bayhealth Hospitals – in Kent and Sussex Counties – offer medication drop boxes outside our pharmacies, where you can dispose of unneeded or expired medicines. The drop boxes are open 24/7. There are dozens of other proper medication disposal sites in Delaware.
2. National Prescription Drug Take-Back Days: Organized by the Drug Enforcement Agency, these days provide an easy, anonymous way to dispose of unwanted medications.
3. Use a Medication Disposal Pouch or Kit: Some pharmacies offer medication disposal pouches or kits that deactivate medications and make them safe for disposal in household trash. These pouches contain chemicals that neutralize the active ingredients in pills or liquids, reducing the risk of harm to others and the environment.
4. Dispose of Medications in Household Trash (When Necessary): If no take-back programs or disposal kits are available, medications can be thrown away in household trash using the following method:
   a. Remove medications from their original containers and mix them with undesirable substances, such as dirt, cat litter or coffee grounds. This helps prevent anyone from accidentally or intentionally taking the medication.
   b. Place the mixture in a sealed plastic bag and dispose of it in your household trash.
   c. Remove or scratch out personal information from prescription labels before throwing away the empty bottle.
5. Do Not Flush Medications (Unless Specifically Directed): Only flush medications if the prescription label or medication insert specifically instructs you to do so. This usually applies to a small number of medications that may be especially harmful if taken by someone other than the patient for whom they were prescribed.

What About Sharps and Needles?

If you use injectable medications, such as insulin or biologics, it's important to dispose of needles and syringes in a sharps container immediately after they have been used. Dispose of used sharps containers according to your community guidelines. Many pharmacies and health departments offer sharps disposal services. Never throw loose needles in the trash.

Keep Our Community Safe

“As pharmacists, we strongly encourage patients to dispose of unused or expired medications properly,” said Keena Smith, pharmacy manager, Population Health. “By following these guidelines, it not helps prevent accidental ingestion, but it also protects the environment from contamination. This can make a big difference in keeping our communities safe and health."

Visit Bayhealth's Pharmacy page for more information on the hours and services of the Bayhealth Pharmacy sites located at Bayhealth Kent and Bayhealth Sussex campuses.

Safe disposal of medications is an important step toward creating a healthier and safer environment for everyone.