Collecting and Disposing of Unwanted Medicines
What to do with Unwanted or Expired Medicines
EPA encourages the public to take advantage of pharmaceutical take-back collection programs that accept prescription or over-the-counter drugs, as these programs offer a safe and environmentally-conscious way to dispose of unwanted medicines. This may be at a location such as a local enforcement agency, retail pharmacy, hospital or clinic. To find any available collection programs in your community, contact your city or county government's household trash agency.
As a second choice, the public can utilize EPA's guidelines for household disposal of medicines (PDF) (2 pp, 500 K, About PDF).
Information for Organizers of Take-Back Events or Programs
EPA recommends that household pharmaceuticals collected during a take-back event or program be incinerated. EPA prefers that the collected household pharmaceuticals be sent to a permitted hazardous waste combustor, but when that is not feasible, at a minimum they should be sent to a large or small municipal waste combustor. For additional information, check out EPA's recommendation for incinerating pharmaceuticals from take-back events (PDF) (9 pp, 1.6 MB, About PDF).
Information for Hospitals, Pharmacies and other Businesses with Unwanted Medicines
Hospitals, pharmacies and other businesses generating pharmaceutical waste generally cannot use take-back programs or events to dispose of expired, unwanted or unused pharmaceuticals. Public collection events typically do not intend to manage waste from businesses or comply with the regulations applicable to business waste. Healthcare facilities and healthcare-related businesses that generate pharmaceutical wastes are responsible for appropriately managing their wastes in accordance with all local, state and federal environmental regulations. This includes the rules for managing hazardous wastes if the wastes generated are identified as hazardous waste.