Don't toss old medicines, try to recycle them

By Linda Tarr | For The Olympian • Published July 17, 2007

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Per capita in Washington, the average person has 8.9 prescriptions a year. A statewide medicine take-back program would collect some 82,757 pounds a year.

There are other considerations for proper disposal: Children sometimes find medicines in the garbage and take them.

According to the state Department of Health, nine children die annually from poisoning, 465 are hospitalized and 3,490 visit the doctor.

Also, according to the Northwest Product Stewardship Council:

n There is increasing concern regarding the disposal of pharmaceuticals in landfills, including worry that landfill liners might leak over time, resulting in discharge of pharmaceutical contaminants to the ground water.

n Organic wastewater pollutants are now detectable at low levels. The U.S. Geological Survey tested 139 streams for presence of 95 chemicals in 1999-2000 and found that 80 percent contained 1 or more of these chemicals, 50 percent contained 7 or more chemicals and 34 percent contained 10 or more chemicals.

In Washington, the Department of Ecology analyzed for 24 pharmaceuticals and personal care products in 2004. Sixteen compounds were detected at extremely low levels.

Other options

What to do if you don't have a nearby pharmacy that can take your drugs? For chemotherapy drugs, contact your prescribing medical office to see if they will accept the drug.

According to the stewardship council, for all other drugs, you should:

n Keep the medication in its original container.

n Modify the medications to discourage consumption. Add a small amount of water to pills or capsules to dissolve them.

n Seal and conceal. Tape the container lid shut with tape, place in a sealable bag, then place in a non-transparent container to ensure that the contents cannot be seen.

n Discard the container into the garbage away from kids or pets. Do not place in the recycling bin.

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