Do you need to dispose of pharmaceuticals? At some point, you may have wondered what the best method of disposal is. You may be wondering if it is legal to throw away your old medicine bottles in the trash. You may be thinking about donating your unused medication to a charity.
There is a lot of concern about pharmaceutical disposal and what happens to it once it's thrown away. Fortunately, Mediwaste Disposal is the city's trusted and highly reviewed medical waste disposal company that provides professional and efficient pharmaceutical disposal services. In this blog post, we will discuss what you need to know about pharmaceutical disposal in El Paso.
Do you require pharmaceutical or another medical waste disposal? Mediwaste Disposal in El Paso has you covered. Contact us online or call (844) 633-4669 to learn more.
How to Properly Dispose of Pharmaceuticals
Unused or expired prescription drugs are potentially dangerous because they can lead to poisoning, overdose, and abuse. It is advised that these items be discarded in safe places, such as at public disposal sites, to protect public safety. If unused or expired drugs get into the wrong hands, they will likely end up being used against their intended purpose and illegally.
A safer alternative would be to discard them when you know they are going bad so that nobody else can access them. Review any specific disposal instructions from your healthcare provider before disposing of any medicines. If you have any questions, contact your health care provider or pharmacist before throwing away anything with personal information, including name and the prescription number.
Most prescription and over-the-counter medicines can be disposed of in regular garbage. Here are some tips for proper pharmaceutical disposal:
Mix the medication with an unpalatable product, such as dirt, kitty litter, or even used coffee grounds (never break pills or capsules). This prevents drug theft or diversion from being thrown away.
Place the mixture into a sealed container - like a zip lock bag - before tossing it away.
Remove labels, and scratch off any identifying information while disposing of vials.
Never flush prescription medications unless instructed by the label or accompanying patient information specifically instructs you to do so (e.g., for a certain class of meds, such as those with a high potential for abuse). If there are no instructions, instead throw them away in the household trash.
Always take advantage of drug stores' take-back programs when disposing of unneeded or expired medication!
The Dangers of Improper Disposal
According to the latest statistics, a large part of the millions of tonnes of waste manufactured annually in the US is not disposed of properly. This way of disposing of garbage has been identified as one of the top causes of pollution. It is becoming an increasing cause for concern amongst government officials and environmentalists alike because it can lead to hazardous effects on health and the environment.
Besides that, improper pharmaceutical disposal can have a negative impact on human health. This includes many types of infections and even death. For example, when water contains foreign substances such as microorganisms, poisonous chemicals, or medical waste - its makeup will change, making it unfit to drink. Diseases like cholera and leptospirosis are known to be spread through contaminated water sources which lead to an epidemic among populations at times.
The Benefits of Using a Disposal Service
At Mediwaste Disposal, you'll never have to worry about going through the entire process alone. We offer the highest quality service for all of your pharmaceutical waste needs and provide everything from correct pharmaceutical disposal classification to reliable material transportation so that you can rest easy knowing that anything you don't want will go safely out of your plant.
Our team also handles hazardous and non-hazardous materials alike, complying with federal regulations as needed to ensure our clients are fully covered. Contact us online or call (844) 633-4669 to talk with one of our El Paso staff members about our disposal services!