Proper Disposal of Unwanted Medications, 
Sharps, and Mercury

What does unwanted medication include?

• Expired medication 
• Drugs that didn’t work for you
• Drugs that are no longer used 
• Unknown tablets and capsules
• Medicine from deceased family members

Safely store all medicine!
Unsafe storage of medications presents a danger to children, guests, and pets that could accidentally ingest the drugs. Go through all your medicines (prescription and nonprescription) at least once a year. Check the expiration dates and look for medicine that is discolored, dried out, crumbling, or shows other signs of being degraded. Look for leftover medicines that you no longer need. After identifying the medicines you want to keep, store them in a convenient, but cool, dark, and dry location. (The bathroom cabinet is not a good storage place for most medicines, due to heat and humidity.) Always keep medicine in its original container. 

Child-resistant caps should be used if children live in your home or visit. Store all medicines out of sight and reach of children—in a locked cabinet or one with safety latches on it. A majority of medicine bottles used by seniors do not have child-resistant closures. As many as 20% of child poisonings involve a grandparent’s medication. Do not leave children unattended where they have access to medicine bottles. 

Put unwanted medicines in a safe place where you won’t confuse them with currently used medication and where others can’t get to them. Store them in their original container with the label intact. Never give medicines to another individual—it is dangerous! Do not open unwanted ampoules, vials, or IV bags.

Place unwanted medications in the trash.
Most Franklin County, Massachusetts trash is incinerated, and incineration is currently considered to be the safest way to dispose of unwanted medications. Wrap the medicine containers to minimize the likelihood of the discarded medicine being stolen and misused, potentially resulting in death or illness.

Needles hurt!
Never discard loose sharps in the trash or recycling bin, or leave needles and syringes where someone can be injured. Do not flush needles, syringes, or lancets down the toilet. Improper disposal of needles, lancets, and syringes (“sharps”) injures hundreds of recycling, sanitation, and custodial workers each year. Proper disposal of sharps is important to prevent injury and disease transmission from needle-sticks. 

Disposal of sharps is easy and free in Franklin County, Massachusetts. Sharps disposal containers are available through the Franklin County Solid Waste District. Call the District to find out how you can participate in this free sharps disposal program.

Always store sharps containers out of the reach of children.

Mercury-containing products
Mercury is highly toxic to human health and the environment and dangerous to have around the home. Your old mercury thermometer and blood pressure devices can be properly disposed of through the District at no charge. The District has free, non-mercury thermometers available for exchange. The District also has a brochure about mercury and its dangers. Call the District for more information or visit our website.