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Institute for Human Health and the Environment

URMC / Institute for Human Health and the Environment / Engagement / Engagement Projects / Medication Disposal

Proper Disposal of Unwanted or Expired Medication

Many medications (prescription or over-the-counter medication) contain chemicals that can harm other people or the environment.   It is important to safely dispose of unwanted or expired prescription medications to prevent misuse by another person.  Some people flush medications down a drain (like a toilet or sink), not realizing that most wastewater treatment plants and septic systems are not equipped to remove these chemicals. This means flushed medications can end up in rivers, lakes, and groundwater and can pollute surface water, harm wildlife, and contaminate drinking water.

Safe Medication Disposal

  1. Medication Take-Back Locations
    Use a take-back site locator to find authorized collection sites near you. These locations often include pharmacies, hospitals, or law enforcement agencies. Many also provide mail-back envelopes for convenience.
  2. Local Pharmacies
     Many pharmacies have medication disposal kiosks or offer mail-back programs.
  3. Medication Take-Back Events in your community
     Local health departments or law enforcement often organize medication take-back events to provide a safe and anonymous way to dispose of medications.
  4. At-Home Disposal (If Take-Back Options Are Unavailable)
    If no take-back programs are accessible in your area, follow these steps to safely dispose of medications in the household trash:
    • Step 1: Mix the medication with an undesirable substance such as used coffee grounds, cat litter, eggshells, or dirt.
    • Step 2: Place the mixture in a sealed container, like a plastic bag.
    • Step 3: Dispose of the sealed container in your household trash.
    • Step 4: Remove any personal information from the prescription label before throwing the bottle away.
Monroe County NY Ecopark logoIn our region, wastewater is often discharged to Lake Ontario and other surface waters that are used for drinking water. You can help protect these important natural resources by properly disposing of medications.  If you are in the Monroe County area, you can dispose of your medication at Ecopark.

What did the IHHE Engagement Pillar do

Waste water diagramWhen patients receive medications, they are often given instructions that include advice on disposal.  This provides an opportunity to give environmentally sound disposal advice. We are working with health care providers to develop information they can share with patients. We developed clear, consistent, and evidence-based instructions based on U.S. EPA recommendations. These instructions help people to find environmentally responsible disposal methods. View example instructions.

Where to learn more