How to safely dispose of medications

Since the big McNeil Pharmaceuticals recall, I found myself wondering what I was supposed to do with the two bottles of recalled medicine I had.  I know you’re not supposed to flush it or just throw it away.  You hear about all the stuff that seeps into water.  I don’t want to contribute to that problem.

Thankfully, when McNeil contacted me about my refund, they included a link to Smarxtdisposal.net which tells exactly how to dispose of medication safely.

Here’s what Smarxtdisposal.net says:

1. DO NOT FLUSH unused medications and DO NOT POUR them down a sink or drain.
2. Be Proactive and Dispose of Unused Medication In Household Trash. When discarding unused medications, ensure you protect children and pets from potentially negative effects:
• Pour medication into a sealable plastic bag. If medication is a solid (pill, liquid capsule, etc.), add water to dissolve it.
• Add kitty litter, sawdust, coffee grounds (or any material that mixes with the medication and makes it less appealing for pets and children to eat) to the plastic bag.
• Seal the plastic bag and put it in the trash. 
• Remove and destroy ALL identifying personal information (prescription label) from all medication containers before recycling them or throwing them away.
3. Check for Approved State and Local Collection Programs. Another option is to check for approved state and local collection alternatives such as community based household hazardous waste collection programs. In certain states, you may be able to take your unused medications to your community pharmacy or other location for disposal.