I have heard that drugs have been detected in liquid seeping from landfills. Why does DEC encourage people to put drugs in their trash?
DEC believes the best option for disposing of unwanted/expired household drugs is to bring them to a household drug collection event where collected drugs are properly destroyed via incineration. If a collection event is not available near you, disposal in household trash is preferred over flushing. Prepare them according to DEC’s recommendations found at www.dontflushyourdrugs.net. Additionally, ask your local pharmacy or county government to host a drug collection event. Information on how to hold a collection event. Why don’t most household hazardous waste (HHW) collections accept medications? Historically pharmaceuticals were not collected at HHW collections. In light of the recent finding that pharmaceuticals are entering waterways, communities are expanding collections when possible to include pharmaceuticals. Collecting drugs at a HHW event however is expensive for the facility. Collecting pharmaceuticals can involve a licensed pharmacist, who can identify, sort, and record the
