Safe disposal of prescription drugs
Drugs are used to treat different medical conditions and diseases and should be taken as recommended or prescribed. While they play an important role in maintaining our health, safe disposal of unused or expired prescription drugs and other pharmaceuticals is also important.
Unused and expired prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications and natural health products are often left in medicine cabinets and cupboards. This can lead to their accidental misuse or intentional abuse. Whether prescribed or sold over-the-counter, unused or expired drugs may no longer be effective or could have dangerous interactions with other medications.
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Safe disposal
Help ensure that prescription drugs and other pharmaceuticals do not pose a risk to you, others, and the environment.
- Check your medicine cabinet and cupboards and remove all unused and expired prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications and natural health products. If you do not know if a drug is still safe, check with your pharmacist.
- Bring unused and expired prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications and natural health products to your local pharmacist for proper disposal.
Do not flush medicines down the toilet or sink. Wastewater systems are not designed to remove pharmaceuticals, so this may harm fish and other wildlife.
Preparing for return
To prepare your unused and expired prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications and natural health products for return, follow these steps:
- Collect all expired and unused prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications and natural health products
- Remove any prescription labels or identifying information from the packaging
- Empty pills into a single, sealable bag (you can combine different pills in one bag)
- Leave creams, gels and liquids in their original containers
Bring your unused and expired prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications and natural health products to any pharmacy in Canada. Pharmacies in most provinces ensure proper disposal. If your pharmacy does not accept your unused and expired prescription drugs, medications and natural health products, contact your municipality or provincial/territorial government for assistance.
Pharmaceuticals and the environment
Over the past few decades, there has been a dramatic increase in new human and veterinary drugs introduced to the Canadian marketplace.
Due in part to improper disposal of these drugs, there are traces of pharmaceuticals in the environment. Concentration levels of these products may be low but could still be enough to have adverse effects on the environment or on human health. Effects can also build up over time. Learn more about ways to track and reduce pollution and waste.