How to Throw Away Expired prescription Medicine

When medicine has expired, it's important to dispose of it, no matter how expensive it might have been to purchase. Chemical changes can take place after the expiration date making it useless or even toxic. Dispose of medications properly, so animals and children can't find their way into it, and so it doesn't contaminate your water supply.

Things You'll Need

• Drinking glass
• Rubber gloves
• Kitty litter or coffee grounds
• Small plastic zip-top bags
• Trash bag
• Black permanent marker

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Instructions

• 1

  Gather all your expired or old medications, including any liquids and pills.

• 2

  Put on household rubber gloves.

• 3

  Place all the pills in a small, zip-top, plastic bag and seal it.

• 4

  Crush the pills with a mallet or rolling pin

• 5

  Open the bag. Add a handful of kitty litter or coffee grounds to absorb the medication. Reseal the bag.

• 6

  Throw the bag in a larger trash bag, tie it off and dispose of it.

• 7

  Peel off all labels on all the containers with any personal information on them. You can also use a black permanent marker to cover the information.

• 8

  Pour the remaining liquid into a glass of warm water to dilute the medication.

• 9

  Pour the diluted mixture back into the medication bottle. If it will not fit, pour the remainder into another empty bottle.

• 10

  Place the bottle or bottles in a small, plastic, zip-top bag and seal it. Place the bag in a trash bag and tie it off. Dispose of the trash bag.