Recent reports of trace levels of pharmaceutical compounds in our nation’s drinking water supplies have raised awareness of water quality protection. State and federal agencies are now recommending the medical wastes should not be flushed down the drain. The best way to safely get rid of your expired and unwanted medicines is to discard them at a designated disposal sites.
Proper Disposal
Residents are being asked to properly dispose of their old medications. The Monterey County Health Department, Monterey Regional Waste Management District, Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority, and Monterey One Water (M1W) agree that the best solution to safely dispose of pharmaceutical wastes is to return to your pharmacy and ask them to take them back.
Follow the White House Drug Policy for disposing of medical wastes in the trash. Remove the medicines from the original container and mix them with unpleasant waste material, such as used kitty litter, ashes, or coffee grounds. Then place the mixture in an impermeable container such as a sealable bag before discarding in the trash.
Pharmaceutical Disposal Locations
Visit our Resource Directory to find pharmaceutical designated disposal locations.