How to Safely Dispose of Unused and Expired Medicines at Home 

By Chinedu Akpa. B. Pharm. Freelance Health Writer. Medically reviewed by: A. Odutola, MB.BS. PhD. FRCSEd.

 

A community pharmacist showing a customer safe disposal of their unused medications. (AI generated from ChatGPT)

 

Highlights 

• Unused and expired medications are a different kind of waste that should be treated differently from other forms of waste.

• Improper disposal of unused and expired medications can pose a threat to humans, environment and health. 

• Across most of Africa, the disposal of unused and expired medicines are generally haphazard and not environmentally friendly.

• Pharmacies and healthcare facilities are strategic points for pharmaceutical waste collection. 

• Different public health stakeholders have roles to play in ensuring that unused and expired medications are disposed of in line with guidelines from drug control agencies or in line with public safety. 

 

Introduction 

You regularly take out your household trash in bags so the garbage company can pick them up for safe disposal, but the procedure for getting rid of unused medications is not that simple.

Your unused medications are not like your ordinary household waste because, if not handled properly, they can pose risks to human health and the environment.

Here's a story of Amara and her son, Tobi that you can relate to.

After her back surgery, Amara was prescribed an opioid painkiller. It helped her heal, but once the pain eased, she set the nearly full bottle aside, keeping it in a bathroom cabinet.

One morning, while making breakfast, she didn’t notice her 2-year-old son, Tobi, wandering into the bathroom. The cabinet wasn’t locked. The expired pills were still there.

Several minutes later, she found Tobi on the floor, barely breathing.

At the hospital, doctors identified opioid poisoning and acted fast. Tobi survived, but just barely.

Amara was devastated. She never imagined the opioid medication could pose such a danger. Now, she warns others to dispose of unused drugs properly. One forgotten bottle nearly cost her the life of her child; her bundle of joy!

In this blog, you'll learn about the safest ways to dispose of unused medications and the dangers that improper disposal poses to public safety. 

 

What are Unused and Expired Medicines?

Unused medicines have been defined by the World Health Organization as medicinal products or pharmaceuticals that have not passed their expiry date, are no longer consumed by the intended users and have not been returned to a healthcare provider or a drug return program. [1] 

The reasons why you may be in possession of unused medicines may include any or a combination of the following: [2]

• Not taking the medicine as advised by your healthcare professional or due to forgetfulness
• Stopping to take the medicine because of improvement in your underlying medical condition
• Change in your treatment plan
• Experience of adverse or side effects
• Repeat prescriptions that are not needed
• Left over from the death of a loved family member
• Oversupply of the medicine

Expired medicines on the other hand are medicines that have passed a date set by drug manufacturers as being of guaranteed effectiveness and safety. Expired medicines need to be properly disposed of as taking them could result in poor treatment success, increased harm, or other health complications. 

So, knowing what to do with a medication that is unused or expired can be lifesaving especially when you have kids at home. 

 

Why Does Proper Disposal of Unused and Expired Medicines Matter?

According to reports, one of the main reasons for hospital emergencies is the inadvertent ingestion of medications. [3] 

The following are the some reasons why proper disposal of unused and expired medicines is important:

• Prevent accidental poisoning: The brief story of Amara and her son is an example of what can possibly go wrong if left-over medicines are not properly discarded after use. Children less than 5 years are more prone to accidental poisoning than any other age group. [4] This is not to exempt adults and even pets/animals. This is why the instruction that usually comes with your medication container, saying: “Keep all medicines away from the reach of children and pets” is vital information to obey. 

• Avoid drug misuse: Opioids for example are prescribed for severe pain conditions and misuse/ abuse is a big issue in many countries. So, when you are prescribed an opioid, it is wise to dispose of any unused portions properly when your pain eases off. If not, this drug can easily be abused especially when you have teens in the house.

• Protect the environment: The water bodies seem to be a natural place to dump wastes including medicinal wastes in some countries and cities in Sub-Saharan Africa. This practice is common in the region as people throw their wastes into the drainages when it rains. The dangers of such activities include high traces of drugs in drinking water, changes in aquatic life, and a breeding ground for resistant strains of bacteria and other microorganisms. 

 

What Not to Do When Disposing Your Unused and Expired Medications at Home

The following are some practices that you should avoid when disposing your unused and expired medications.

Don’t: 

• Burn medications with other waste: There are certain medications that are referred to as radioactive pharmaceuticals. Burning them as a means of disposal could be dangerous. In fact this act is highly discouraged as it can cause the release of these radioactive pharmaceuticals into the air, water, and soil. When this happens, they can cause the following harm over time even at low level exposure: [5]
  • Cancer
  • Organ damage
  • Genetic mutation
  • Contamination of the soil which can disrupt the food chains. 

• Flush medications into toilets: The act of flushing medications into toilets can harm the environment because wastewater treatment plants aren't particularly designed to remove medicines or pharmaceuticals and this can contaminate water sources and potentially harm the environment. However, there are instances when flushing your medicines into the toilet is recommended. Medications that adhere to this rule are frequently thought to be extremely dangerous to other people and typically include instructions to flush them down the toilet or sink as soon as they are no longer needed. [6]

• Store unused and expired medications at home: This can lead to accidental poisoning, drug abuse and misuse; all of which can be potentially harmful. 

 

Step-by-step Guide to Safe Disposal of Unused and Expired Medicines at Home

 

Infographics: How to safely dispose of your unused and expired medications at home. Click on image to enlarge.

 

Knowing what to do with a medication that is no longer useful to you can be lifesaving especially when you have kids at home. Fortunately, in some African countries, drug regulatory agencies like the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Nigeria have established guidelines on how to properly dispose of your medicines. [7] Here are some of the things you can do according to the NAFDAC guidelines:

Do:

1. Check for local disposal programs/drug take-back programs: Check with your community pharmacies, healthcare facilities, or waste management agencies to get information on any local medicines take-back programs in your locality. This is one of the most efficient ways to dispose of your medicines.

2. Follow medication guidelines: Some medications usually come with information on how to properly dispose of them in an environmentally friendly manner, so ensure to always check your medication leaflet. 

3. Return unused and expired medicines to your community pharmacy: Many of us get our drugs from our local pharmacies, so when confused as to what to do with your unused medicines, you can reach out to your local pharmacy to check if they accept unused and expired drugs. This step is mostly desirable in areas without take-back programs. 

4. Household disposal: Disposing your unused medicines in your trash bin is greatly discouraged but like they say; to every rule, there are exceptions. Some medicines can actually be disposed of in the trash as long this safety measures are observed:

1. First of all, mix the medication with an unpalatable substance like dirt but do not crush it. 
2. Place the mixture in a sealable bag and then trash. 
3. Ensure that you secure your privacy by removing any label that contains your personal information before disposing. 

5. Flush medications: Certain medications should not be discarded in the trash; instead, it is preferable to dispose of them by flushing them down the toilet. Usually, prescription medicines should not be flushed down the toilet unless the label on the container tells you otherwise. While the flushing of medications is generally discouraged, specific drugs pose potential risks if left-overs are retained at home. This is why prompt disposal is advised when they are no longer required. Certain painkillers like hydrocodone and morphine sulfate fall into this category and should be flushed rather than stored in a medicine cabinet. 

If a take-back program is not available in your area, a list of medicines that can be flushed include:

• Buprenorphine
• Oxycodone
• Fentanyl
• Oxymorphone
• Hydromorphone
• Tapentadol
• Meperidine
• Sodium oxybate
• Methadone
• Diazepam rectal gel
• Morphine
• Methylphenidate transdermal

Extra caution has to be paid when disposing pressurised canisters (common with inhaler drugs), patches, and creams. The cautions are highlighted below:

 

Disposing of Inhalers, Patches, and Creams

1. Inhalers (Pressurized Canisters):

Even when empty, inhalers may contain residual gas or medication, and the canisters are pressurized, meaning they can explode if incinerated or punctured. Do not burn, crush, or throw into a fire or recycling bin.

If no drug take-back option is available:

• Ensure the inhaler is completely empty by following manufacturer instructions.

• Place the empty canister in the household trash, not recycling.

• When in doubt, contact your local waste disposal authority for guidance.

2. Transdermal Patches:

Patches (e.g., hormone, pain, or nicotine patches) may still contain active medication even after use. To dispose safely:

• Fold the patch in half (sticky sides together) to prevent accidental contact.

• Place it in a sealed bag or wrapper, then throw it in the trash.

• Do not flush unless the patch is on the FDA flush list.

3. Topical Creams and Ointments:

For small amounts of unused product:

• Squeeze into an absorbent material (like paper towel, coffee grounds, or cat litter).

• Place in a sealed plastic bag, then throw in the trash.

Do not pour creams or gels down the sink or toilet, as they may harm the water supply.

Regardless of the type of medications, if you’re ever unsure of what to do with an unused or expired medicinal product, reach out to your local pharmacy or municipal waste authority for region-specific recommendations.

 

Challenges Individuals Face when Disposing Unused Medicines at Home

The following are the challenges that people can possibly encounter when trying to dispose of their unused medicines:

• Lack of proximity to healthcare facilities: Unlike cities where you have many healthcare facilities like the community pharmacies and private hospitals, people who live in rural settlements in Sub-Saharan Africa may have challenges with reaching these facilities which are mostly located in the cities because of inadequate or chaotic transportation systems. 

• Low literacy: Many people still struggle to read and write in many parts of Africa, so asking them to read the leaflets of their medication for guidance on how to dispose of their unused medications might be an uphill task.

• Inadequate waste management system: The collection of waste is either inadequate or lacking in many parts of Africa, especially the rural areas. This leaves people with self-help by burning or throwing their unused medicines into water bodies.

• Lack of a proper sewage system: Even when certain medications are required to be discarded by flushing down the toilet or sink because of how dangerous they could be, many cannot follow this process because they still use bushes and pit latrine as a means to defecate. This abound in many rural areas in Sub-Saharan Africa.

 

Conclusion

Proper disposal of unused and expired medicines protects your family, your community, and the environment. Even without a formal system, simple actions like mixing medications with dirt before trashing or returning them to a pharmacy can make a big difference. Don’t keep unused drugs at home, dispose of them safely and responsibly. One small step could prevent serious outcomes.

Remember, it only takes one forgotten bottle, like in Amara’s story, to cause a tragedy. Be informed. Be intentional. And if you’re ever in doubt, don’t hesitate to ask your local pharmacist or healthcare provider for guidance.

 

References: 

1. World Health Organization. Guidelines for safe disposal of unwanted pharmaceuticals in and after emergencies. [Internet] WHO/EDM/PAR/99.2. 1999. p. 1 - 36. [Cited May 30, 2025]. Available from here.

2. Wang LS, Aziz Z, Chik Z. Disposal practice and factors associated with unused medicines in Malaysia: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health. 2021 Sep 16;21(1):1695. doi: 10.1186/s12889-021-11676-x.Available from here.

3. Center for Disease Control and Management (CDC). Emergency Visits for Drug Poisoning. United States: 2008-2011. [Internet] Last updated November 6, 2015. [Cited: May 24, 2025]. Available from here

4. Lieu K, LeSaint KT. What Is Accidental Poisoning? JAMA. 2024;332(23):2046. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.17485. Available from here

5. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Radiation Health Effects. [Internet]. Last updated on October 2, 2024. [Cited May 24, 2025]. Available from here

6. Food and Drug Administration. Where and How to Dispose of Unused Medicines. [Internet]. Last Updated on April 16, 2025. [Cited May 25, 2025]. Available from here

7. National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). Nigeria. Poison Control Volume 4: Safe disposal of Old Medicines at Home, Tips for Parents and Caregivers. [Internet. n,d]. Cited May 28, 2025. Available from here.

 

Published: June 1, 2024

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