KeriKadi

DH got two prescriptions - Vicodin and Motrin - he hates the Vicodin so we want to get rid of it but I am not sure of the best way to dispose of a drug like this. As you can tell I'm not used to having medication in my home. I don't want to just put it in the trash and I know flushing it will contaminate ground water but I'm not sure what else to do. Anybody?

We also need to dispose of some interior house paint. Any ideas there?

TIA!

mommy23ms

I know we have taken paint to a landfill that has a special area to drop off paint and household chemicals. You might want to check around and see what your area offers. I would just flush the pills - it beats having someone get a hold of them.

Bensmom

I'll be interested what others say on the drugs- we have a cabinet full of some heavy stuff from when DH was in his accident- I think he took one pill, period. I know if the concern is others taking them, I've heard you should mix them into used cat litter and dispose of it that way. But I'm not sure if there are issues from there in terms of contamination. I was thinking of actually calling the pharmacy and just seeing if they would take them back (not to give back out, just to get rid of safely) In terms of the paint- at least around me they are super strict and the county run landfill has two or three events a year where they will take chemical household waste (including paint) but you have to sign up about a month ina dvance to get a slot. not sure if it's that way everywhere.

KATin NJ

Yup, What J said...Our county has special dates we can drop off paint to their landfill location. As for pills, I usually flush them.

jaarr

I don't think you're supposed to flush or put pills down the drain, as they can contaminate. One little px won't but if everyone makes a habit of it then there are issues. I'd throw them away, maybe amongst a load of messy gone bad leftovers or something. Or call the pharmacy they'll know what to do.
As for paint, cities usually have hazardous dump days, when you can drop off paint, batteries, questionable materials etc at convenient (???) locations? Can you call your cities 411 line? Actually in Charlotte it's 311, wierd, or look it up on the city sanitation website.
Of course you always have the option of selling them on the street? kekeke

mhurst

I would just throw the tablets away...maybe not in the bottle, sprinkle in the kitchen trash right before you take it out. If someone is going to go through my trash for tablets, then they deserve them.

KiwiMama

I would call a pharmacy and ask them - they may even have a program to take the and dispose of them. Wouldn't hurt to call.

feltc

I know if you contact pharmacies they will often take the pills for you to dispose of them. I'd call around and see what you can find.

MissPitchy

My thoughts exactly!

Our landfill won't take paint, even on special waste days. They say it needs to be hardened and then put it in the regular trash. You can buy a powder at the paint/hardware store to mix in and it will harden it within 24 hours. It is made to make disposal safe!

KBtotheBB

The only reason I don't throw medicine in the trash is because our trash cans are outside. So, if an animal - who doesn't know any better - smells something tasty and goes scrounging, they could ingest it and who knows what would happen.

The FDA recommends mixing medicine with an undesired substance such as coffee grinds or kitty litter. Here's a link - Office of National Drug Control Policy -- Publicat