PRESS ROOM

(Chesapeake, VA – February 13, 2008) – It happens to everyone for a number of reasons. You end up with a medicine cabinet full of expired or unused medications --- now considered a form of household hazardous waste. As with any other household hazardous waste product, you should not flush these items down the toilet, down the sink, or place in items for recycling. If you’re wondering what to do with old or unneeded medicines in your cabinet, the Southeastern Public Service Authority (SPSA) and Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) have some helpful advice:

• Do not flush unused medications. There has been growing concern about medications and their potential impact in our waters.  Since treatment plants are not designed to remove many of these medications, they may end up in our waterways.  Remember, the fish don’t need our medications.
• Do not pour unused medications down the sink. This is no better than flushing them down the toilet. They still end up in the same place. It's even worse if your home uses a septic system. Medications in septic tanks may be more concentrated than in treated wastewater.  Experts say drugs may leach into the local water table.
• Do not place unused medications in containers to be recycled. This can contaminate recyclables.
• Dispose of unused medications in the trash, but first, make certain that you’ve taken the necessary precautions to prevent accidental or intentional ingestion by following these simple steps:
  
  
• Keep the medications in the original container.  Being able to identify the medication could be helpful in case a child or pet accidentally ingests it.
• Mark out all identifying personal information on the prescription label.
• Crush solid medications or dissolve them in water and mix with kitty litter, sawdust, or anything else that will make the drug unavailable or unappealing for a pet or childto eat.  This also works with liquid medications.
• Seal the bottle with the lid.
• If a non-recyclable container is available, place the medicine bottle in this container to help disguise it.  
• Put the container in the trash for disposal with SPSA.