Mommy Goes Green

It happens almost every time I get a prescription medication – I have a couple pills leftover.  I am TERRIBLE at remembering to take medication more than once per day. I can’t remember what I’ve done with these leftover pills in the past ( maybe thrown them in the trash ) but for the last two years, I’ve held on to any extra pills planning to “dispose of them properly”.  Well, now is the time.  

SmarXt Disposalis a partnership between Fish and Wildlife Service,  the American Pharmacists Association, and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.  It is a campaign to educate the public on the most responsible way to dispose of medication – safeguarding lives and protecting the environment.

Pharmaceuticals enter our water from three sources:

1. medicine that has passed through someone without completely metabolizing
2. flushing unused medication down the toilet
3. pouring unused medication down the drain

According to SmarXt Disposal, most scientists have concluded that there is no short-term aquatic life effects due to medication in the environment but work is continuing on evaluation the long-term effects.  The studies also suggest that it is unlikely that the current quantities of medications in the environment are harmful to human health.

Still, I’m not comfortable ingesting even small amounts of medication, regardless of what the ‘current studies show’.  We all know how frequently research changes.

There are a couple ways to dispose of unused medication properly ( prescription or OTC ).  First, see if there is a drug Take Back program in your community, currently 18 states have programs.   Second, contact your local hazardous waste program as they may have organized hazardous waste collection sites or events and take unused medications.  If none of these options exist, dispose of any extra medication ( prescription or not ) in the following way:

1. pour medication into a sealable plastic bag – if the medication is solid (pill or liquid capsule), crush it or add water to dissolve it
2. add kitty litter, sawdust, or coffee grounds (for example) to the plastic bag to make it less appealing to children and pets
3. seal the plastic bag and put it into the trash
4. remove and destroy all personal information on medication containers and recycle them

While sending unused medication to the landfill doesn’t seem like a great choice, it is definitely a better alternative to putting them down the drain or toilet.