April 4, 2008

How to dispose old medicines

By Helen Hong
Special to the Times

According to a recent study, 80 percent of U.S. streams contain traces of prescription medicines that sewage systems cannot remove. These streams flow into larger bodies of water possibly endangering aquatic animals, the environment and drinking water. Take-back programs to dispose of old or unused medicines at local drug stores such as Longs Drugs and Walgreen’s are yet to be in place, though the decision to enact the take-back program are not in the hands of individual stores but at the corporate headquarters.

Drug stores suggest this series of steps for disposal and to help protect the environment:

- Keep medicine in its original child-restraint container.

- Scratch out the patient information on the label.

- Place some water into solid medications such as pills or capsules.

- Add nontoxic and unpalatable material into the bottle. (Sawdust, kitty litter, charcoal, powdered spices, etc.)

- Tightly close and seal the container lids with packing or duct tape.

- Place medicine container in durable packaging, such as a cardboard box that does not show what is inside.

- Place in the trash close to garbage pickup time.

However, the most important aspect to disposing old prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications is to never flush them down the toilet.

For more information, contact a Household Hazardous Waste Collection site or call a local drug store.