Dispose of half-used medication or expired antibiotics safely

When spring cleaning and clearing the medicine drawer or cabinet in the house of half-used medication or expired antibiotics, it is important to do it the correct way, as simply dumping it has negative effects on the environment and on human health.

This happens as most people are unaware of how the Medicines and Related Substances Act (101 of 1965) applies to them.

By simply flushing liquid medication down the drain or toilet, one is causing a ripple effect in that it will end up in the water system.

If it lands up in the water system, it can be harmful to the environment, plants, animals and even humans as molecules inevitably find their way back into the food chain.

According to the Act, the disposal of any medicines down municipal sewers is against regulations.

Disposal of expired medicines along with general household waste, also causes concern as it will eventually end up on a landfill site, presenting two problems.

Waste pickers and drug addicts scour these landfills for either left-over medication containing cortisone or needles, which fuels their addiction.

The second problem is that when biological materials start to decay, they release methane gas into the atmosphere and this is many times more damaging to the environment than carbon dioxide.

Solution

Simply purchase the correct medical waste containers from reputable suppliers, and use those to dispose of expired medicines or used needles.

Keep these containers in a safe storage place until filled, take them to either the local pharmacy or to a certified registered medical waste facility.

Depending on the weight, you will be liable for a cost of between R20 to R100 and you will receive a safe destruction certificate.

Once the deposited waste arrives at a registered facility, it undergoes one of the following processes: if the medication falls under Schedule 1-4, they will immediately be incinerated on site, while Schedule 5-6 medicines will require an external inspector from a government body.

Once the procedure is complete, the pharmacist will sign it off with their registration code from the South African Pharmacy Council.

The same process is undertaken for schedule 7-8 medicines, with the exception that there needs to be two pharmacists present.