As you begin to stock up on cold medicine for the winter, it is a great time of the year to go through your medications and dispose of the ones that have expired. You will want to do so in a safe manner. You do not want to leave the medications in a place where children can reach them.
In the past it was recommended that you flush the medication down the toilet for safe disposal. Environmentalists re beginning to say that this method is unsafe. It can introduce antibiotics and hormones into the environment, which can affect the plants and the animals.
You can dispose of medication by throwing it away, which is less likely to expose the environment to the chemicals from the medication. This is not quite as safe for young children. You will want to take all medications directly to the outside garbage can or dumpster to keep children from accessing the medication.
Another option is to contact your local pharmacy to see if they have a medication disposal program. Many pharmacies do. They will collect the medication and dispose of it in a manner safe for the environment. It is also nice to not have to worry about who might access the medication. You can also contact your local government agencies to see if they offer a similar program.
It is important to remember to check your medications on a regular basis to make sure they haven’t expired. As you throw medications away, make a list of over-the-counter medications that you will need to replace. This will ensure that you have the medications on hand when you need them. You may want to stock up on cold and flu medicine as well. While you are out you may consider buying extra tissue and other supplies to deal with the colds that come with winter weather.