Storing unneeded drugs in our medicine cabinets increases risk of accidental poisonings and increases opportunities for illegitimate access and drug abuse. Unwanted medicines that are flushed down toilets into septic systems or wastewater treatment facilities can end up in our surface or ground waters, potentially impacting aquatic organisms. Trash disposal is not secure, especially for narcotics like OxyContin, and does not guarantee medicines won’t get into the environment.

Community demand for a safe and secure way to dispose of medicines is high. Group Health Cooperative and select Bartell Drugs locations have collected more than 27,000 pounds of unwanted medicines in their original containers since October 2006, with limited locations and little advertising.  By partnering with law enforcement, medicine return programs can also collect and destroy legally prescribed controlled substances, like OxyContin and Ritalin.   

The Secure Medicine Return Bill, sponsored by Representative Dawn Morrell, will create a producer-provided medicine return program that is convenient, safe and secure for residents throughout the state. Over-the-counter medicines and prescription drugs, including controlled substances, will be securely collected and safely disposed to help reduce access to drugs, reduce risks of poisonings, and reduce environmental contamination. 

The Secure Medicine Return Bill (2SHB 1165) is a shared responsibility approach:

• Producer-Provided Program: The bill sets take-back program requirements, but does not mandate specific methods, allowing producers of prescription and over-the-counter medications the flexibility to use their expertise to create the best program. Producers may work together to create a program, as they do in other countries where similar programs exist, or may create a program on their own. Drug producers will pay for collection, transportation and disposal, so there will be no charge to consumers when returning medicines and no new costs to local governments. The program is expected to have a negligible impact, if any, on the price of medicines – at most one or two pennies per container. (This “producer responsibility” approach is similar to British Columbia’s industry-run program, which has operated for more than 10 years and is funded by an association of over 100 drug companies as a cost of doing business.)
• State Government Oversight: Washington’s Board of Pharmacy will review, approve, and monitor the take-back program. Agency staffing for the program will be minimal, but will provide essential oversight. The bill is budget neutral to the state and does not require any general account funds.
• Voluntary Pharmacy or Law Enforcement Involvement: Medicine producers may arrange for secure collection sites in law enforcement offices, pharmacies, or other locations; however police, sheriffs, retailers and others can choose to participate or not.  Existing programs at some pharmacies and law enforcement offices in Washington demonstrate strong community interest and demand for drug take-back programs.

View the bill summary!

Where's the Bill now?

2010 Legislative Session:  The 2010 State Legislative Session begins on January 11, 2010. Representative Morrell plans to reintroduce the bill (2SHB 1165) in the 2010 legislative session.

Detailed bill information

2009 Legislative Session Recap: Representative Dawn Morrell introduced the Secure Medicine Return bill, in the House of Representatives (HB 1165). Additionally, Senator Adam Kline introduced a companion bill in the Senate (SB 5279).

The Secure Medicine Return bill (2SHB 1165) was passed through three committees in the House, but the clock ran out before a floor vote could be held. 

 View the current list of endorsers. If your organization would like to endorse this bill, please contact Margaret Shield, Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County at margaret.shield@kingcounty.gov or (206) 265-9732.