Proper disposal of drugs (injectable, paste, pills)?

[Dazednconfused]

I feel like this is an answer I should know the answer to, but I don't. In previous situations for me, we only kept around a few meds and always ran out long before their expiry date! Recently I was cleaning out an old closet at the farm I manage, and virtually everything in it was expired by several years. Obviously we will need to be replenishing our med box with the appropriate meds. But this leaves me with a bucketful of Ace, Banamine, Ketofen, Bute, SMZs, Robaxin, Dex, etc.

Some is in paste, others in powder, others IM/IV, pills, etc. What is the safest & greenest way of tossing the stuff out? Wasn't sure if the dumpster was the best option....thanks in advance :)

[LauraKY]

Don't flush! I've been told to tightly wrap, place in a container (used supplement container works great) and put in dumpster. I also usually throw some wet kitty litter (the clumping kind) in with pills, just in case someone or thing is rooting through the garbage.

[Nipntuck]

I would ask your vet or pharmacist if they can take them. I know pharmacies take human meds for disposal.

[MunchkinsMom]

I just gave a bunch back to my vet - as they have the correct way to dispose of them.

[kookicat]

I give my vet any unused meds. They go off to be disposed of with the surgery's waste.

[stryder]

Our county government is advertising that people should put unused/expired medicines with coffee grounds or used kitty litter and into the trash.

[NorCalDressage]

Sharps container at barn -

Something like flyspray or Surpass, or Bute I would throw away in the trash. But vaccines, IM/IV meds go in sharps container

[Horsegal984]

Liquids can go down the drain, and unless it is a controlled substance it can go in the trash. Animal products aren't really considered biohazzards to people, and other than the robaxin there isn't anything you listed with an abuse potential for people.

Controlled substances, which really shouldn't be sitting on a shelf at the barn anyway should be given back to your vet to dispose of.

Katherine
Vet Tech

[foggybok]

Liquids can go down the drain, and unless it is a controlled substance it can go in the trash. Animal products aren't really considered biohazzards to people, and other than the robaxin there isn't anything you listed with an abuse potential for people.

Controlled substances, which really shouldn't be sitting on a shelf at the barn anyway should be given back to your vet to dispose of.

Katherine
Vet Tech

These days they are discouraging people from putting anything medications down the drain, as it gets in the water supply. Instead , pour is in clumping litter, put in a bag and place in garbage. Or as stated above, see if your vet can take it and dispose of it.

[Horsegal984]

These days they are discouraging people from putting anything medications down the drain, as it gets in the water supply. Instead , pour is in clumping litter, put in a bag and place in garbage. Or as stated above, see if your vet can take it and dispose of it.

I forget not everyone is on septic ;)