Informational materials on pharmaceuticals and the environment

The materials are primarily intended to inform patients. They can be ordered free of charge or downloaded from the UBA's website. Below, each material is presented individually, along with links for downloading or ordering.

Many people believe that leftover medicines should always be disposed of at pharmacies. Providing information about the applicable, regionally varying disposal methods can take up valuable time in pharmacies. The poster "Correct Disposal of Leftover Medicines in: …" is designed to ease this burden by displaying written disposal information in the pharmacy's sales area. Other suitable locations for the poster include medical practices, hospitals, health advisory centres, health insurance providers, and waste disposal advisory offices.

The poster allows for handwritten entry of the name of the city or district and marking of the appropriate disposal methods. Additionally, the address of the nearest recycling centre can be included. The poster also conveys the crucial message that leftover drugs should never be disposed of via wastewater.

It is available free of charge in A1 size (59.4 x 84.1 cm) but can also be printed in other sizes. The text remains clearly readable up to A3 size (30 x 42 cm). There are two versions of the poster: a German version and an international version, which includes information in English, French, Polish, Turkish, Russian, and Arabic.

Download und Bestellung:

• German Poster: Richtige Entsorgung von Altmedikamenten
• International Poster: Correct disposal of leftover medicines

Poster on the correct disposal of old medicines

This German-language poster can be supplemented with the correct regional information on the disposal of leftover drugs.

Source: German Environment Agency 2024

This flyer provides a brief and easily understandable explanation of why the correct disposal of leftover medicines is important for the environment. The front page conveys the central and universally applicable message that medication residues should never be disposed of via wastewater. A map of German districts and cities visualises the appropriate regional disposal methods for leftover medicines, based on data from arzneimittelentsorgung.de (as of March 2023). In some districts or cities, multiple disposal methods are available, so the map prioritises the simplest option from a patient’s perspective, with household waste being preferred over hazardous waste collection points or recycling centres.

Since disposal methods may change or additional options may become available, the flyer also directs users to the arzneimittelentsorgung.de portal, where disposal information is regularly updated.

On the back of the flyer, the name of the respective district or city can be handwritten, and the appropriate disposal options can be marked. Additionally, the address of the nearest recycling centre can be included. There is also space for a stamp from the distributing pharmacy or other institution.

The German-language flyer is available in three versions:

• A blank version without checkmarks on the back
• A version with a checkmark for the disposal method "household waste"
• A version with a checkmark for the disposal method "pharmacy"

The flyer without checkmarks on the back is also available in English, French, Polish, Turkish, Russian, and Arabic.

When unfolded, the flyer has a DIN A4 format. It is folded twice into one-third sections.

The flyer is available for download and ordering through the UBA's website:

• Flyer German – Version without tick box: Arzneimittel NICHT in die Toilette oder Spüle
• Flyer German – Version with tick box for disposal via household waste: Arzneimittel NICHT in die Toilette oder Spüle
• Flyer German – Version with tick box for disposal via pharmacy: Arzneimittel NICHT in die Toilette oder Spüle
• Flyer English: Do NOT dispose of drugs in the toilet or sink
• Flyer French: NE PAS jeter des médicaments dans les toilettes ou l’évier
• Flyer Polish: NIE wyrzucaj leków do toalety lub zlewu
• Flyer Turkish: İlacı klozete veya lavaboya ATMAYIN
• Flyer Russian: НЕ выбрасывайте лекарства в унитаз или раковину
• Flyer Arabic: Yuraa adam ilqa al-adwiya fi-l-mirhad au al-haudيُراعى عدم إلقاء الأدوية في المرحاض أو الحو

Gallery: Gallery Do NOT dispose of drugs in the toilet or sink

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Leftovers of liquid pharmaceuticals are more frequently disposed of incorrectly via wastewater than solid ones. To address this issue, a German-language postcard in DIN A6 format (10 x 15 cm) has been developed, which can be handed out to patients when dispensing liquid medicines in pharmacies.

The back of the postcard explains that liquid medication residues should be disposed of together with their container, without separating them, and that recycling the container (e.g. bottle, ampoule) is secondary in this case.

Download und Bestellung:

• Postcard: Household waste instead of glass containers (in German)

Gallery: Image gallery - postcard on the disposal of leftover liquid drugs

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When using medicated creams and gels, the amount of pharmaceutical substances entering wastewater can be reduced by first wiping hands with a paper towel after application, disposing of it in household waste, and only then washing hands. To raise awareness of this, a German-language postcard in DIN A6 format (10 x 15 cm) has been developed. It can be handed out to patients when dispensing medicated creams and gels in pharmacies. The back of the postcard also advises that creams and gels should only be used as directed in the package leaflet or as advised by a healthcare professional, and only in the prescribed amount.

Download und Bestellung:

• Postcard: Wipe First… Then Wash! (in German)

Gallery: Image gallery of the postcard on the handling of medicinal creams and gels

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This decorative wall calendar can be ordered free of charge by pharmacies and given to patients as a gift. Designed as a perpetual birthday calendar in DIN A4 format, it can be used year after year. Each month features large decorative photographs along with short texts highlighting different aspects of pharmaceuticals and the environment. Topics go beyond proper disposal of medication residues, also addressing ways to prevent unnecessary environmental pollution from pharmaceuticals. Additional calendar pages provide further information on each topic, along with links and QR codes for deeper insights. The extended back cover provides space for pharmacies to place their stamp, ensuring it remains visible throughout the year.

Gallery: Image gallery of the birthday calendar: Medicines and the Environment

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Die Apotheke ist ein naheliegender Ort für Gespräche über Arzneimittel und deren Wirkung auf Mensch und Umwelt sowie über die Entsorgung von Altmedikamenten. Das Infopaket für Apotheken bietet dem Apothekenpersonal vertiefte Hintergrundinformationen für solche Gespräche. Es werden Anregungen gegeben, wie Apothekerinnen*Apotheker zu einer umweltgerechten Anwendung und Entsorgung von Medikamenten beitragen können. Die vom Umweltbundesamt zur Verfügung gestellten Informationsmaterialien und ihr zielgruppengerechter Verwendungszweck werden erläutert. Das Infopaket für Apotheken hat einen Umfang von 12 Seiten und kann heruntergeladen werden.

Environmental topics are increasingly gaining public interest and can attract attention when shared on websites or social media channels. Pharmacies, medical practices, and advisory centres can use information on the environmental impact of pharmaceuticals to position themselves as responsible healthcare providers while offering valuable insights to their patients. However, creating such content takes time, which is often scarce in the busy workday.

To support this, a download folder provides German texts and images (some of them multilingual) to help simplify the creation of editorial content on pharmaceuticals and the environment. The texts are available in various lengths and tones, making them suitable for websites or social media.

All images, including infographics and animations, are available under a Creative Commons (CC BY 4.0) licence, meaning they can be freely used with proper attribution. Additionally, the images are offered in channel-specific formats to ensure optimal presentation across different platforms.

Download folder: Freely available texts and images on pharmaceuticals and the environment (in German)

Gallery: Image Gallery of Checklist: Eco-friendly Use of Medications (in German)

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The pharmacy is a hub for discussions about medicines, their effects on humans and the environment, and the proper disposal of leftover drugs. The German-language information package for pharmacies provides pharmacy staff with detailed background knowledge for such conversations.

It offers practical suggestions on how pharmacists can contribute to environmentally responsible use and disposal of medicines. Additionally, it explains the information materials provided by the UBA and how they can be effectively used for different target groups. The pharmacy information package consists of 12 pages and is available for download.

Download:

• Information Package for Pharmacies – Pharmaceuticals and the Environment (in German)