Proper Disposal of Residential Medications, Pharmaceuticals and Sharps
(Needles and Lancets)
The procedures below apply ONLY to medical wastes that are generated
IN A PRIVATE HOME IN CALIFORNIA by the residents of that home. Officially,
there are no California medical regulations governing home-generated medical
waste. These options may help prevent the medical waste from being spilled
during pickup, or being accidentally or intentionally misused.
Please do not put medications and pharmaceuticals down the drain or down
the toilet as sewage treatment systems are not designed to remove pharmaceuticals
and medications. These include any prescription or nonprescription substance
intended to be swallowed, inhaled, injected, applied to the skin or eyes,
or otherwise absorbed by the body.
To dispose of medications and pharmaceuticals in the trash, packaging
suggestions include securing them in some sort of durable packaging or
container to ensure that the refuse collector can safely bring the medications
and pharmaceuticals to the landfill. Any nonbreakable packaging or container
you use is acceptable. Secure the packaging, or the pry-off type lids
on some pill containers with strong tape. To deter the misuse of the pharmaceuticals
by others, residents may wish to either remove or obscure personal identification
information from the label before placing the container in the trash.
There are no laws that forbid putting home generated medications and
pharmaceuticals in the trash if the medications or pharmaceuticals would
not be considered hazardous waste. Usually the pharmaceuticals in a home
that are likely to be considered hazardous waste are those prescribed
for chemotherapy. Chemotherapy Pharmaceuticals need to be returned to
the clinic that dispensed them.
In limited cases, unused or expired pharmaceuticals can be returned to
pharmacies for "take-back" programs. Ask at the pharmacy regarding
the availability of this service.
A health care facility or health care professional visiting a private
home are subject to the Medical Waste Management Act (MWMA). Health care
facilities and health care professionals need to contact their local health
departments for proper disposal information.
Please keep in mind that trash is handled by people on manual collection
routes, at recycling facilities and at landfills. These people could be
stabbed by medical sharps such as needles or lancets that poke through
clothing, including heavy gloves and boots. This could result in serious
injury, including infection by pathogens either from the needle user,
or by pathogens that adhere to a needle after it is disposed.
To properly dispose of sharps, place the sharps into a rigid plastic
or metal container with a tight cap or lid, such as a plastic bleach jug,
plastic liquid detergent bottle, or coffee can; seal the container with
strong tape and place the container only in the refuse bin.
Hospital Take-Back Programs - Hospitals may take back sharps from those
patients who go to the hospital for regular outpatient services. Ask at
the hospital regarding the availability of this service.
Pharmacy Take-Back Programs - Drug store chains may take back their customers'
sharps, although large quantities might not be accepted. Ask at the pharmacy
regarding the availability of this service.
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