If you missed the Richardson Police Department’s Drug Take Back event last weekend, the Health Department has links on its web page with information about how to safely dispose of expired and/or unused prescription and over-the counter drugs year-round. The best disposal methods keep drugs out of our water supply. Here are two suggestions found at one of the links (from the Federal Drug Administration) on how to dispose of medicines in the trash:
- Take them out of their original containers and mix them with an undesirable substance, such as used coffee grounds or kitty litter. The medication will be less appealing to children and pets, and unrecognizable to people who may intentionally go through your trash.
- Put them in a sealed bag, empty can or other container to prevent the medication from leaking or breaking out of a garbage bag.
In addition, several pharmacy retailers including CVS and Walgreens provide drug take back bins indoors year-round at select locations; check their websites for more information.
