What is the best way to dispose of old - no longer needed drugs?

Question

My mom will need to be in a nursing home indefinitely. I need help in determining the eco-safest way to dispose of old prescription drugs and expired over-the counter medications. I hesitate to flush them down the toilet or put them down the drain, thinking that creates extra problems with water management. Could you help please?

Answer 1

Personally, I would take them to her pharmisist and ask him to dispose of them. He probably does it semiregualrly anyway and would know the safest and most legal way to get rid of them.

Answer 2

Down the drain is still the best way. The drugs will be diluted so much that it will not matter. If you are worried that much about overloading the system then just do one a day. Keep in mind that it goes to a common sewer that connects all the other houses in the area so the amount of waste water that you are pouring the drugs into is quite large.

Answer 3

The stuff dissolves in water. At those kind of quantities, you needn't worry about the water supply, or water management.

Answer 4

i would flush them but if u don't want 2 do that asking the pharmacist, hospital, or poison control would be a good way 2 start

Answer 5

Flushing them is fine. Do you realize what gets flushed daily anyways? Ick! (sorry about you mom) :)

Answer 6

Hmmm...the folks at the nursing home probably know what to do about that, you'd think?

Answer 7

once in the water system, they get filtered out thouroughly. dont worry, just flush them. thats what doctors tell us to do.

Answer 8

Throw them to outer space?

Answer 9

down the drain

Answer 10

bring them back to a pharmacy