Medication Disposal

Dispose of unused medications safely

Unused or expired medications should never be flushed down the toilet or poured down the sink drain. Wastewater treatment plants are designed to treat dirty water from homes and businesses, but they are not intended to remove medications from wastewater.

When medications are not disposed of properly, they can create safety risks at home and may end up in local waterways. Safe disposal helps protect children, pets, public health and the environment.

Find a Medication Disposal Location

The best way to dispose of unwanted medication is to use a medication take-back program. Contact your local pharmacy, police department or hospital, or use the DEA certified disposal location lookup tool to find a collection site near you.

The DEA also hosts nationwide medication take-back events each year in April and October. Learn more about upcoming events by visiting the DEA National Take Back Day website.

Safely Dispose of Medications at Home

If a take-back option is not available, follow safe at-home disposal guidance to help prevent accidental ingestion and protect your personal information.

Safe at-home disposal steps may include:

Crush solid medications or dissolve them in water
Mix medications with kitty litter, sawdust or another material that makes them unavailable or unappealing to children or pets
Keep medications in their original container so they can be identified if accidentally ingested
Mark out personal information on the prescription label
Seal the bottle with the lid
Place the medicine bottle inside a non-recyclable container before placing it in the trash

Protect Your Home and Local Waterways

Proper medication disposal is a simple way to reduce risks at home and help keep unwanted substances out of local waterways. When possible, use a take-back program or designated disposal location for the safest option.