Environmentally conscious disposal of leftover drugs

Pharmaceutical products are designed to heal, alleviate, or prevent diseases. They are valuable and often costly, requiring careful use. However, expired or unused medicines may accumulate in households. To protect both people and the environment, it is essential to dispose of them properly.

In Germany, disposal options for leftover drugs vary by region. The most commonly recommended methods are disposal via household waste or hazardous waste collection points. You can check locally recommended disposal methods by entering your postcode at arzneimittelentsorgung.de.

However, one rule applies everywhere: NEVER dispose of drugs via the toilet or sink! This also applies to liquid medicines such as cough syrup or eye drops, which should always be disposed of along with their container. In these cases, preventing pharmaceuticals from entering the water bodies is more important than recycling the packaging (e.g. bottles or ampoules).

When disposing of medicines in household waste, ensure they are inaccessible to prevent misuse (e.g. by children, to avoid poisoning). It may be advisable to place medicine residues at the bottom of the bin or wrap them in paper. The outer packaging of medicines can be disposed of as usual through paper recycling.

Paper tissues containing pharmaceutical residues should always be disposed of in household waste, not in the toilet, to prevent pharmaceuticals from entering wastewater. For example, if you have applied a medicinal ointment, first wipe your hands with a paper tissue and dispose of it in household waste before washing your hands with soap and water. Similarly, tissues used after applying nasal drops or sprays should go in the household waste bin.

Further information: Pain relief gel – questions and answers

Correct disposal of leftover drugs!

Check for your region at: www.arzneimittelentsorgung.de

Source: CC-BY 4.0 German Environment Agency, DECHEMA, Ecologic Institute 2023

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Proper disposal of leftover medicines ensures that they are sent to waste incineration and thus completely destroyed. In contrast, improper disposal of medicines via the sink or toilet unnecessarily introduces pharmaceuticals into the environment, as sewage treatment plants cannot fully remove all substances present in wastewater. Treated water may still contain pharmaceutical residues, which are discharged into water bodies.

Studies have shown that some of these substances have negative environmental effects. For example, feminisation of male fish has been observed downstream of sewage treatment plant effluents due to exposure to hormonally active pharmaceuticals. Another example is the painkiller diclofenac, which has been detected in water bodies and has been found to cause kidney damage in trout.

Further information: Entry and occurrence of human pharmaceuticals in the environment

Medication waste can be avoided by checking which medicines you already have at home before going to the pharmacy, ensuring they are still within their expiry date. It is also advisable to buy smaller pack sizes and avoid stockpiling medicines unnecessarily.

In some cases, you might be able to forgo medication and consider non-medicinal treatments, such as physiotherapy or psychotherapy. For mild ailments, home remedies like bed rest, hot water bottles, cold compresses, or herbal tea may provide sufficient relief.

Wherever possible, preventing illnesses should be a priority to reduce the need for medication and the accumulation of pharmaceutical residues. Preventative measures include maintaining a healthy diet, regular physical activity, sufficient sleep, stress reduction, quitting smoking, avoiding alcohol, and keeping up to date with vaccinations.

Further information: Environmentally conscious use of medications

Checklist: Eco-friendly Use of Medications

How can I, as a patient, contribute to reducing the entry of pharmaceuticals into the environment?

Source: CC-BY 4.0 German Environment Agency, Ecologic Institute 2023