What do you do with medication that has expired or you’re no longer taking? Don’t throw them in the trash or flush them down the toilet, as this contributes to medication getting into our water supply.
The DEA will offer a collection of unused or unwanted medication on Saturday, October 29, from 10am – 2pm. Click here to find out about a collection site near you.
6 responses so far ↓
Lisa // Oct 6, 2011 at 6:16 pm
Thank-you!!!!!!!! I’ve got bags of old pills I’ve been wanting to get rid of.
Any ideas of where to give/send/recycle the bottles? There not recyclable with the regular trash recycling here in Cali.
How to Cope with Pain // Oct 6, 2011 at 6:53 pm
Lisa, you can ask the pharmacy where you got the medication if they accept used bottles for recycling. Be sure that they recycle and not just throw them away! That would probably be easiest.
2 other suggestions would be:
1) sometimes individual companies/universities have better recycling programs than cities. Do you or someone you know work at a place that accepts all plastics. (I used to take non-1, 2 plastics to a university which recycles all plastics, until Philadelphia started doing this too – yea!)
2) There are sometimes monthly-or-so recycling days where there’s a collection place noted for your city, when all plastics are accepted. Sometimes they include toxins such as paint, batteries, etc. Keep an eye out!
Anyone else with good suggestions?
Esther // Oct 7, 2011 at 9:13 am
Very important topic!
Thank you.
phylor // Oct 7, 2011 at 11:28 am
Thanks, I just finished emptying out into baggies my old/no longer taking meds. I vaguely remembered this event from last year, and was wondering how I’d find out about 2011. Looks like I can drop off my baggies at the local police station — a fairly short walk away.
As to the plastic bottles; hubby has used the various sizes to store nails, drill bits, etc. We also use them to store our spare change or interesting coins we have picked up (old, foreign, etc.)
Thanks again. If you don’t mind, I’d like to share this post to spread the word about the event.
Alicia Kirk // Oct 7, 2011 at 2:38 pm
Being a chronic back pain sufferer, I’ve used multiple back pain treatments including a TENS unit, massage therapy, rehabilitation, back pain exercises and back strengthening exercises, heat and cold therapy, various back pain medicine including NSAIDs and prescription back pain relievers, etc. I’ve learned that strengthening and conditioning your back (stomach muscles) really helps minimize injury and inflammation, as well as learning how to lift properly, bending and twisting properly, etc. My back pain causes began with the birth of my first child, then a serious car accident in ’97. Physical therapy is a very good option to relieve chronic back pain, and proper ergonomics, stretching, etc. are very important. i try to help others learn what they can do to reduce their back pain naturally, etc. from what i’ve learned in my journey at my personal back pain blog, Stop Back Pain Cause Now. i really appreciate your information, and utilize it regularly as a reference when researching or answering others’ questions. thank you very much for your invaluable information.
Alicia Kirk
Hector // Oct 12, 2011 at 3:43 am
This is really good advice, thanks very much.
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