Most households have some out of date or unused medicines stored away somewhere. Being stored in a cool, dry place doesn’t mean your medication will last forever.
Pharmacies are obliged to get rid of your unwanted medicines. So next time you look in your medicines cabinet and see something that hasn’t been used for years or is out of date, bring your unwanted medication to us and we will get rid of it, totally free!
Never get rid of your unwanted medication at home!
Medicines have to be disposed of safely and according to certain guidelines. Throwing medication in the bin or flushing it down the toilet could lead to harmful or toxic chemicals leaching into the environment.
It’s also incredibly common for young children or pets to find medication from the bin and consume it and make themselves sick.
How do I avoid accumulating unwanted medicines?
Having to dispose of unwanted medicine may be necessary, but that doesn’t avoid the fact that it is a waste of medicine. Unwanted and wasted medication costs the NHS £300M every year!
This is caused by people buying more medication than they actually need, and letting the unused just expire. It’s actually better to buy medicine as and when you need, rather than buying in bulk and stockpiling. So avoid buying more than you need. Even with your prescribed medication, do not order more than you need.
What can we not get rid of?
Don’t ask us to get rid of any of the following:
- Anything that isn’t a medicine
- Batteries
- Chemicals
- Dialysis kits
- Paints or oils
- Pesticides
- Solvents
- Veterinary products
- Sharps, e.g. needles