Return unused medicines through an approved route
Why this can help
Appropriate medicine take-back prevents one avoidable route of pharmaceutical release into the environment. It also keeps unwanted medicines in a controlled disposal system.
One possible next step
Ask a pharmacy or local authority where unused medicines are accepted, and keep them secure until return.
What changes the outcome
Follow current local and product instructions; some countries have specific exceptions when take-back is unavailable. Environmental residues also come from normal medicine use, not just disposal.
The action
One possibility
Disposing of unused medicines into a drain
Another possibility
Using an authorised medicine collection route
Appropriate medicine take-back prevents one avoidable route of pharmaceutical release into the environment. It also keeps unwanted medicines in a controlled disposal system.
Ask a pharmacy or local authority where unused medicines are accepted, and keep them secure until return.
Sources and calculation references
- EPA — How pharmaceuticals enter the environmentUnited States Environmental Protection Agency
- FDA — Drug disposal questions and answersFDA
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