sfenvironment.org

Safe Medicine Disposal

What do you do with expired or unwanted medicine?

When medicines expire or are no longer needed, most people either flush them down the toilet or toss them in the trash. Neither disposal method is environmentally sound.

Why Flushing Medicine is a Bad Idea

If you flush or pour medicines down the drain, they end up in the San Francisco Bay, where they can harm marine life. Medicines disposed of through the sewer system cannot be reomoved by waste treatment facilities and can therefore enter our water supply. Small concentrations of prescription drugs (including hormones, antidepressants, and antibiotics) and over-the-counter drugs like pain relievers, antiseptics, and cold and flu remedies have been detected in waterways nationwide.

Trace amounts of medicines have unknown effects on humans, but they do have a demonstrated negative affect on certain wildlife, including fish. Antidepressants in particular, which have been found in many waterways, have caused abnormalities in fish reproductive cycles. As the use of pharmaceutical products grows, this problem shows no sign of abating.

What San Francisco is Doing

While the issue is being studied worldwide, the City of San Francisco is doing what it can to prevent the flow of pharmaceuticals into our waters. In May 2006 the city partnered with other Bay Area agencies to hold the Safe Medicine Collection Event, during which we collected over 3500 pounds of pharmaceutical waste. The San Francisco event took place at 13 Walgreens stores.

While the City continues to partner with Walgreens on other projects (such as battery and sharps collection), current state and federal regulations prohibit permanent, long-term collection of pharmaceuticals at pharmacies.

Pilot Mail-In Program: Until pharmacy collection is an option, the City is piloting a mail-in program of pharmaceuticals. To learn more about the program, call the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program at 330-1405. Mail-in envelopes can be picked up at:

Department of the Environment
11 Grove Street, SF, 94102
(415) 355-3777

Recology San Francisco
501 Tunnel Avenue, SF, 94134
(415) 330-1400

Recycle AIDS Medication Program (RAMP):
If you have medications (sealed or opened)that are unexpired or up to one year out of date, you may donate the medications to the Recycle AIDS Medication Program (RAMP). This program is not limited to AIDS medications. For more information, visit RAMP or call (415) 285-0606.