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Medicine Disposal
In time, almost every home accumulates unwanted medicine (prescriptions and over the counter products). Getting rid of it properly is easier than many people suppose.
The list below does not apply to:
Don't put medicines in the recycling bin. It could easily be released into the environment during recycling.
The Solution
All household trash from Madison is not put in a landfill where medicines would eventually leach into the groundwater: It is incinerated, thus effectively destroying all such medicines. So the simplest disposal option is to put medicines in your household trash.
Before placing medicine in the trash:
The list below does not apply to:
- Chemotherapy drugs that have specific disposal requirements
- Mercury thermometers - (carefully) bring to Hazardous Waste Collection Center
Don't put medicines in the recycling bin. It could easily be released into the environment during recycling.
The Solution
All household trash from Madison is not put in a landfill where medicines would eventually leach into the groundwater: It is incinerated, thus effectively destroying all such medicines. So the simplest disposal option is to put medicines in your household trash.
Before placing medicine in the trash:
- Remove the identity of the medicine
- Remove the identity of the person for whom it was prescribed
- Denature medicine to keep it from being used again
- Any liquid will denature pills
- Salt, baking powder, kitty litter etc. will make liquids unusable
- Conceal - wrap in opaque packaging and tape tightly
- Sharps (needles and lancets): wrap in puncture proof container and tape closed
- Unopened vials IV bags etc. - wrap in leak-proof packaging and tape closed
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Trent Joseph
Director of Health
-
Health Department
Physical Address
8 Campus Drive
Madison, CT 06443
Phone: (203) 245-5681
Office Hours
Effective September 4, 2018
Mon-Wed 8:30 AM-4:30 PM
Thurs 8:30 AM-6:30 PM
Friday 8:30 AM-12:00 PM