admindispose of expired medical products
A plethora of medications and medical devices, such as glucose monitors or defibrillators, are used by many adults on a daily basis. Some of these medications, however, may be expired or unused and therefore should be properly disposed of. This is important because expired or unused prescription drugs can be dangerous for children and pets, and improperly stored or discarded drugs can cause interactions with other medications. Additionally, unusable drugs are a potential source of water and soil contamination.
While physicians, pharmacists and patients handle and use these medications on a regular basis, there is a gap in understanding on how to safely dispose of them. A recent study found that over half of the respondents were unaware that incorrect medicine disposal practices could harm the environment and population health and a majority of participants reported not being counseled on safe medication disposal by their pharmacist or healthcare professionals.
Many municipalities offer drug take back programs in which you can drop off your unwanted and expired medicines to a community collection site. You should check with your local law enforcement agency for dates and times of these events as they vary by county and municipality. In addition, you can contact your pharmacist who will be able to provide you with a list of medications that are not suitable for flushing or should never be placed in the trash, and will advise you on how to best dispose of them at home.
How do I dispose of expired medical products?
Another option is to contact a medical recycler who will be able to take your unused or expired medication and device for recycling, if they are reusable. If the device is not reusable, they can also dispose of it for you. If you have a larger device, such as a pacemaker or defibrillator, it will need to be returned to the manufacturer, who will have specific procedures for returning them to the appropriate facilities.
medical products can also be donated to organizations that purchase and resell them, such as All States M.E.D. In addition, a number of online shopping portals have categories dedicated to selling unused or used medical equipment and supplies such as personal protective equipment and incontinence items. Finally, if you do need to throw away an item of medical equipment or supply, you should be sure that it is in a sealed and hardened container and not thrown into the curb side trash or recycling bins as doing so puts waste management employees at risk.
The Morris Township Police Department has a drug return box for your unwanted and expired medication(not syringes). If you do not have access to a medicine take back program or a medical waste recycler, please mix your medicines with an inedible substance such as dirt, kitty litter or used coffee grounds and place the mixture into your household trash. This will make the medicine unappetizing to children and pets, and help to prevent accidental or intentional misuse and abuse of your medicines.
