Household Hazardous Waste

Medicines

Collection of Unwanted Medicines

Our project goals in the Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Region are to help inform the public regarding the need to dispose of their household hazardous waste including pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in a responsible manner and to offer alternatives for disposal which are convenient for consumers.  

Medications accepted include prescription drugs (both controlled and non-controlled) and over-the-counter medications.  Veterinary medicines are also collected.

Please visit the Twin State Safe Meds web site to learn more about proper storage and disposal of medicines as well as a list of New Hampshire and Vermont drop box sites.  These boxes are typically located in police station lobbies where you can just enter and drop off.

National Collections

The U.S. Department of Drug Enforcement offers occasional collections through towns and cities. Check the U.S. DEA web site to see if there is a collection coming soon and if your municipality is participating. Or just ask at your police department.

Some pharmacies provide mail-back envelopes for purchase.  You can put your non-controlled drugs only in the envelope and mail it to a processing facility.  Don't know the difference between controlled (addictive, "street value") and non-controlled?  Ask your pharmacist.

No Collection Available?

If there is no collection in your area, the next best way to dispose of unwanted medicines is to throw them into your trash. You can also use a permanent marker to cover the personal information on your medicine bottles.

DO NOT FLUSH OR POUR MEDICINE DOWN THE DRAIN!
It goes into our drinking water! If there are no collections, it is better to put unwanted medicine with your trash. See the NH DES web site for great information.

Dangers of Improper Disposal

As consumers of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs), we are well aware of the benefits they provide. We may not, however, be aware of the consequences of disposing the unused/unwanted portions of these products by flushing or pouring them down the drain. The current options for proper disposal of these, often hazardous, waste products are less than ideal.

Studies done by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and others have shown that the residues of PPCPs enter our waterways through surface runoff, treated wastewaters and septic system contaminated groundwater. Among those PPCPs testing positive in water samples taken downstream from wastewater treatment facilities are anti-depressants, anti-hypertensives, toxic fragrance compounds and endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). EDCs are of particular concern because they affect the hormonal/reproductive functions of wildlife that is exposed to them.

See these great public service announcements from the Great Lakes region. 

Storing leftover prescriptions in the home is not an appropriate solution to this problem. American Journal of Preventive Medicine researchers found that unintentional poisoning by prescription medication (opoids, sedatives and tranquilizers) has surpassed motor vehicle crashes as the leading cause of unintentional injury death, making it the second leading cause of unintentional death in the U.S.

Medical sharps or needles should not be brought to medicine collections.  Pharmacies should be working with their clients to help them with proper disposal in the home.  See this New Hampshire brochure for sharps disposal alternatives.  Do not put your sharps in the trash as they could harm waste management workers.