Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can unused medicine be returned for reuse?

2. Why aren't more pharmacies participating in the take-back program?

3. When will the take-back program end?

4. What are controlled substances?

5. What should I do with my controlled substances (including narcotics)?

6. How are medicines collected in this program disposed?

7. If I don’t have a nearby pharmacy or law enforcement office that I can take my medicine to, what should I do?

8. What is ‘household’ medicine waste?

9. Why can’t businesses use the program?

10. Are medicines really hazardous waste?
    
    

1. Can unused medicine be returned for reuse?

   Collected waste pharmaceuticals from households are not yet able to be reused or redirected from a final disposal program.

   Donations to other countries must be initiated by the receiving organizations. Waste or expired medications should NEVER be given to charitable organizations as a method of disposal.

2. Why aren't more pharmacies participating in the take-back program? 

   The pilot project is funded through 2008 to work specifically with 25 Group Health Cooperative, 12 Bartell Drugs, and two boarding homes.  More collection sites did not participate largely due to funding and staffing constraints.  Organizations interested in medicine return, are encouraged to contact us so we can keep them informed and work together on creating a long-term, statewide collection program.

3. When will the take-back program end?

   This pilot phase of the Medicine Return Program in Washington State ended in October 2008; however, the pilot collection locations have decided to continue to collect unwanted medicines for a limited amount of time.  Legislation that would require pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide and pay for an ongoing statewide medicine return program is currently being considered by the Washington State Legislature.

4. What are controlled substances?

   Controlled substances, which include narcotics, are drugs with a high potential for abuse and/or addiction. Examples of controlled substances are amphetamines, Valium, Ritalin, morphine, methadone and oxycodone. Controlled substances are regulated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to assure security and prevent illegal diversion.  Under current regulations, residents cannot return controlled substances to anyone other than law enforcement. Federal legislation is pending in the U.S. Congress that would amend the Controlled Substances Act so more options are available for residents to return their unwanted controlled substances to a medicine return program.

5. What should I do with my controlled substances (including narcotics)?

   Some law enforcement offices offer medicine return for controlled substances and other medicines.  For a list of law enforcement locations that accept controlled substances, click here.

   For instructions on how to dispose of controlled substances, when law enforcement in your area does not offer a program, click here.

6. How are medicines collected in this program disposed?

   The collected medicines are disposed via high temperature incineration at a secure permitted facility.

7. If I don’t have a nearby pharmacy or law enforcement office that I can take my medicine to, what should I do?

   First, do not flush!  For chemotherapy drugs, contact your prescribing medical office to see if they will accept the drug. For all other drugs, click here.

8. What is ‘household’ medicine waste?

   Any medicine that is determined by a resident or their family to be ‘unwanted’ from their permanent or temporary home is household waste. Household waste medicine could also include unwanted medicines from other household sources such as multiple residences, hotels and motels, bunkhouses, ranger stations, crew quarters, campgrounds, picnic grounds and day-use recreation areas. Unwanted medicines generated in homes by home health care or hospice providers are household waste.  The household waste stream is excluded from hazardous waste regulations and is not subject to hazardous waste tracking or management requirements.

9. Why can’t businesses use the program?

   Businesses are required to manage their waste under different state and federal regulations which require them to count, designate, and separately manage any business-generated hazardous waste. For more information about these requirements for businesses with pharmaceutical waste, visit www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/hwtr/pharmaceuticals. Household waste is exempt from these regulations, though individual counties may not allow hazardous waste into their solid waste systems.

10. Are medicines really hazardous waste?

    Many pharmaceuticals have ingredients with characteristics that cause them to ‘designate’ as hazardous waste when disposed. To designate means to qualify as either a federally regulated (under RCRA – Resource Conservation and Recovery Act) or state regulated hazardous waste (under the Dangerous Waste Regulations WAC 173-303). Federally regulated hazardous wastes include lists of certain discarded chemical products or manufacturing/industrial processes or wastes with hazardous characteristics (ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity or toxicity). Washington State has additional criteria for toxicity and persistence that make pharmaceuticals ‘designate.’ Under Washington Dangerous Waste regulations most unwanted medicines designate as dangerous waste.