How to Dispose of Unused Medication

If you've decided to clear out that museum of unused medication in your medicine cabinet, how do you get rid of all the stuff responsibly? You don't want to contaminate the water supply, nor do you want medication to fall into the wrong hands. Here are some guidelines.

1. Check the instructions. Sometimes they'll provide guidance as to what's the best way to dispose of that particular medication.[1] If you don't have the instructions, see if you can find them online, or call the company that manufactures the drug to ask.
Don't flush! Sending the medication into the water supply is not a good idea, especially if you have a septic system - drugs can leach into the water table, turn up in nearby lakes or streams, and even on your own property. (Caveat: often medications end up in the water system even when taken, through urine or feces.)[2] The only medications that should be flushed down the toilet are:[3][4]
o atazanavir sulfate (Reyataz Capsules)
o entecavir (Baraclude Tablets)
o fentanyl (Duragesic Transdermal System)
o fentanyl buccal tablet (Fentora)
o fentanyl citrate (Actiq)
o gatifloxacin (Tequin Tablets)
o morphine sulfate (Avinza Capsules)
o methylphenidate (Daytrana Transdermal Patch)
o Meperidine HCl Tablets
o oxycodone (OxyContin Tablets)
o oxycodone and acetaminophen (Percocet)
o sodium oxybate (Xyrem)
o stavudine (Zerit for Oral Solution)
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Find out about disposal options in your area.
o Call a local pharmacy to find out if they can dispose of your medication. In some states, although not all, they have an unused medication disposal program that the pharmacies themselves may use to dispose of outdated medicatons.
o Consider donating your unused medications to third world countries. Look to the Starfish Project [5], who accept certain types of medications (Though not any expired medications.). There are other organizations you can find online. Alternatively, consider contacting your local Emergency Rooms, occasionally, they will collect usable supplies and medications for donation out-country.
o Call your local trash service - they might have household waste facilities that will incinerate the medication.[6]
o Contact your local Hospital or Medical Center who will place unused medications into their Bio Hazard containers for incineration. All Hospitals have this option so there is never a need to toss or flush unused medication.
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If your only option is to throw the medication in the trash, then do everything you can to make sure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands. Not only is this a concern if people might pick through your trash (whether in your neighborhood, or at a landfill, or anywhere in between) but it is also dangerous for children, pets, and wild animals.
o Take pills out of containers so people don't know what they are.
o Mix the pills with undesirable substances, like kitty litter.
o If the medication is liquid, mix it with sawdust or flour.
source: www.wikihow.com