Prescription Disposal
Keep our waters clean by safely disposing of prescription and other medications.
Environmental Impacts: Disposing of unused or expired medication – including both over-the-counter and prescription medicines – is a growing environmental problem. Whenever someone flushes medications down the toilet or tosses them into the garbage, these drugs can end up in the surface water or ground water. Wastewater treatment plants and septic systems are unable to remove flushed medications because they dissolve in water. In landfills, medications dissolve and can pass directly into the ground water. This creates a problem for humans, fish and wildlife.
How You Can Help: Reduce the flow of pharmaceuticals into the environment by properly disposing of your unused and unwanted medications in one of the following ways:
1) Return medications to a participating drop-off location or via mail. For more information, visit:
- https://doh.wa.gov/you-and-your-family/healthy-home/safe-medication-return
- To find a location near you or to request pre-paid mail supplies, visit: https://medtakebackwashington.org/
2) Take medications (except controlled substances) to a household hazardous waste collection facility. For more information and to find a location near you, visit:
Remember: Dispose of medications properly – do not place in the trash, and never flush down the toilet. Thank you for helping to keep our waters clean!