What are pharmaceuticals?

Pharmaceuticals are prescribed or over-the-counter drugs and medications used for medical treatment of people and our animals.

What should I do with my expired or unused medications?

Instructions for disposing of unwanted medications may vary by location but in Riverside the approved method is to dispose of them in the trash. Until recently, people have been instructed to flush medication down the toilet to prevent harm to children and animals. Flushing is no longer the recommended disposal method; it can have adverse effects on our environment.

What sort of environmental effects are caused by flushing medications?

Hormones found in medications may cause antibiotic resistant bacteria. Consequently, the bacteria survive and multiply, making it difficult to combat. Long-term health effects on marine life and humans are not yet determined, but it is clear that proactive measures need to be taken to keep medications out of the water.

How should I dispose of my unwanted medication?

Trashing medicine is a better option than flushing. However, precautions must be taken to ensure the safety of children and animals.

• Liquids

  • Empty liquid medication onto absorbent paper towels or rags and dispose of with regular trash

• Propellant Inhaler

  • Empty container by expelling all propellant. Dispose of small empty cylinder in trash.

• Pills

  • Capsules and tablets should be made unusable and unattractive by wetting, breaking, and crushing.The remains should be placed in the original childproof container with all your personal information removed, sealed with tape and tossed in the trash. Or, another option is to mix the medication with decaying food, used coffee grounds, or kitty litter for disposal with your household trash.

• Sharps/Needles

  • Must be placed and secured in an approved sharps disposal container and taken to the Riverside County Household Hazardous Waste Facility located at 1780 Agua Mansa Road.
  • Approved containers are available for FREE at the HHW facility, while supplies last.
  • If you do not have a container, temporarily place the sharps in a hard sided plastic container like a bleach or laundry detergent bottle with a secure lid. Place a label on the container that identifies SHARPS/NEEDLES, secure the lid, and tape the container closed, then take to the HHW facility.