FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

Reprocessing of collected waste pharmaceuticals could be a potential solution in the future, but needs major technical and regulatory change to become a realistic option.
Why aren't more pharmacies participating in the take-back program?

The pilot project is funded through 2008 to work specifically with Group Health Cooperative, Bartell Drugs, and a handful of nursing homes. At present we are not able to accommodate other collection site partners, largely due to funding and staffing constraints. We have heard from several organizations interested in hosting collcction sites, and encourage interested parties to contact us so we can keep them informed and work together on creating a long-term statewide collection program.
When will the take-back program end?

This pilot program will end in late 2008. Legislation in support of an ongoing statewide manufacturer funded collection program is currently being considered by the Washington State Legislature.
What are controlled substances?

Controlled substances, such as narcotics, are drugs with a high potential for abuse. Examples of controlled substances are amphetamines, Valium, Ritalin, morphine, methadone and oxycodone. These are carefully regulated by the Drug Enforcement Administration to assure security and prevent illegal diversion. Once a controlled substance has been prescribed to a patient, current regulations allow only the patient or law enforcement to legally have custody of the drug.
What should I do with my narcotics (controlled substances)?

We hope the pilot program will eventually be permitted to accept controlled substances. Currently the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Controlled Substance Act does not allow the exchange of controlled substances from an end-user to any other individual or pharmacy. The Drug Enforcement Administration is aware of the issues and is considering new approaches.

We recommend that you mix any narcotic (controlled substance) with an unappealing substance such as coffee grounds or kitty litter in a sealable plastic bag and place it in another opaque (dark plastic) bag, wrap it in tape, then place it into the garbage away from kids or pets. To prevent contaminating our water supply or the environment, do not flush medications down the drain.
How are drugs collected in this program disposed?

At present the collected medicines are disposed via incineration at a secure permitted facility. Research is also underway to investigate other methods of safe, secure disposal.
If I don’t have a nearby pharmacy that I can take my drugs to, what should I do?

For chemotherapy drugs, contact your prescribing medical office to see if they will accept the drug. For all other drugs, we recommend that rather than flushing them down the drain, you follow these steps:

1) Keep the medication in its original container.

2) Modify the medications to discourage consumption. Options include adding a small amount of water to pills or capsules to dissolve them or mixing them with an unappealing substance such as coffee grounds or kitty litter.

3) Seal and conceal. Tape the container lid shut with tape, place in a sealable bag, then place in a non-transparent container to ensure that the contents cannot be seen.

4) Discard. Discard the container into the garbage away from kids or pets. Do not place in the recycling bin.
What is ‘household’ medicine waste?

The EPA definition of household waste is any material (including garbage, trash and sanitary wastes in septic tanks) derived from households (including single and multiple residences, hotels and motels, bunkhouses, ranger stations, crew quarters, campgrounds, picnic grounds and day-use recreation areas). Any medicine that is determined by a resident or their family to be ‘unwanted’ from their permanent or temporary home is household waste.

The EPA also considers medical waste generated in homes by home health care providers to be "household waste." Because the household waste stream is excluded from hazardous waste regulations, the waste generated by a health care provider in private homes is not subject to hazardous waste tracking or management requirements even when the waste is removed from the home and transported to a physician's place of business.
Why can’t businesses use the program?

Businesses are required to manage any 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.
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 either be 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.’

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