How to Safely Dispose of Medications
If there are no medicine take-back programs or DEA-authorized collectors available in your area, and there are no specific disposal instructions on the label, follow these simple steps to properly dispose of your medications in the household trash.
- Step 1: Mix
Mix medication (do not crush tablets or capsules) with an unpalatable substance such as dirt, kitty litter, or used coffee grounds.
- Step 2: Place
Place the mixture in a container such as a sealed plastic bag.
- Step 3: Throw
Throw the container in your household trash.
- Step 4: Scratch Out
Scratch out all personal information on the prescription label of your empty pill bottle or empty medicine packaging to make it unreadable, and then dispose of the container.