Unused Medications

Disposing of old or unused medications down the drain is, with a few exceptions, generally not recommended. Most municipal treatment plants aren’t able to remove these materials from the water, and they can pass through the plant and get into our streams and rivers, potentially impacting wildlife as well as drinking water supplies. You can help protect our environment by following the recommended practice of mixing your medications with an absorbent (such as kitty litter) in a sealable plastic bag, and placing this in the trash. To see more detailed information, visit the FDA's guide to disposal of unused medicine. Also check out the DEA's National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.