How to Safely Dispose of Expired Medications: FDA Take-Back Rules and Best Practices

Most people keep expired pills in a medicine cabinet-until they’re forced to clean it out. But tossing them in the trash or flushing them down the toilet isn’t just wrong-it’s dangerous. The FDA has clear, science-backed rules for what to do with unused or expired medications, and ignoring them puts your family, your community, and the environment at risk.

Why Proper Disposal Matters

In 2022, over 5.8 billion prescription drugs were dispensed in the U.S. Roughly 15-20% of those went unused. That’s hundreds of millions of pills sitting in homes, often within reach of kids, teens, or visitors. The CDC reported over 70,000 drug overdose deaths that year. Many of those started with a pill left in a bathroom cabinet.

Flushing or trashing meds doesn’t make them disappear. Water systems pick up traces of drugs-even after treatment. Landfills leach chemicals into soil. And stolen or accidentally ingested pills lead to poisonings, especially in children under six. The FDA says the safest way to get rid of almost every medication is through a take-back program. Period.

The FDA’s Three-Step Disposal System

The FDA doesn’t leave you guessing. They’ve built a clear hierarchy: take-back first, mail-back second, home disposal last-and flushing only in rare cases.

1. Use a Drug Take-Back Location (Best Option)

This is the gold standard. DEA-authorized collectors-mostly pharmacies, hospitals, and law enforcement sites-accept unused meds year-round. As of January 2025, there are over 14,352 of these locations across the U.S. Most Walmart and CVS pharmacies have kiosks inside their pharmacies. You don’t need to be a customer. Just drop off your pills, patches, or liquids in their original containers.

Take-back programs are 99.8% effective at preventing misuse or environmental harm. In October 2024 alone, Americans dropped off over a million pounds of expired meds during National Take-Back Day. That’s the equivalent of 450 fully loaded school buses filled with dangerous drugs removed from homes.

2. Mail-Back Envelopes (Great Alternative)

If there’s no take-back site nearby, prepaid mail-back envelopes are the next best thing. Companies like DisposeRx and Sharps Compliance provide FDA-compliant envelopes with prepaid postage. You drop your meds inside, seal it, and toss it in any mailbox. No need to go anywhere.

These cost between $2.15 and $4.75 per envelope, but many insurance plans and VA programs cover them for free. One study found 94% of users were satisfied with the service. It’s especially helpful for rural residents-31% of whom live more than 25 miles from a take-back site.

3. Home Disposal (Only If You Must)

When take-back and mail-back aren’t options, the FDA says you can dispose of most meds at home-but only if you follow the exact steps.

Here’s how:

1. Remove personal info from the bottle. Use a permanent marker to black out your name, prescription number, and dosage. Or wipe it with alcohol-just make sure it’s unreadable.
2. Take the pills out of the bottle. Don’t flush them. Don’t pour liquids down the sink.
3. Mix them with something unappetizing. Use coffee grounds, cat litter, or dirt. The FDA recommends a 1:1 ratio-equal parts meds and substance. Coffee grounds work best for most people because they mask the smell and taste.
4. Seal the mixture in a plastic bag or container with thick walls (at least 0.5mm). A used peanut butter jar or zip-top bag works. Make sure it won’t leak or break open.
5. Put the sealed container in your household trash.
6. Recycle the empty bottle after removing or obscuring all labels.

This method fails in about 13% of cases-usually because people skip the mixing step or use flimsy containers. One survey found 44% of home disposal failures happened because users didn’t mix meds with an absorbent material. That’s why the FDA insists on the 1:1 rule.

The Flush List: Only 13 Medications Qualify

There’s a tiny list of drugs that are so dangerous, the FDA says you can flush them-if you absolutely can’t get to a take-back site.

These are all high-risk opioids and other controlled substances, including:

• Fentanyl patches
• Oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet)
• Hydrocodone (Vicodin)
• Buprenorphine (Suboxone)
• Morphine sulfate
• Meperidine (Demerol)
• Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
• Tapentadol (Nucynta)
• Tramadol (Ultram)
• Alprazolam (Xanax)
• Clonazepam (Klonopin)
• Carisoprodol (Soma)
• Propoxyphene (Darvon)

That’s it. Only 13. The FDA removed oxymorphone from the list in late 2024 and added buprenorphine. If your medication isn’t on this list, do not flush it. Even if your grandma says it’s fine. Even if the pharmacy leaflet says to. The EPA says flushing any other drug contributes to long-term water contamination.

Flushing these 13 drugs eliminates immediate risk-like a child finding a fentanyl patch. But it’s still not ideal. The EPA urges everyone to use take-back or mail-back even for these, because once drugs enter waterways, they’re nearly impossible to remove.

What Not to Do

Here are the most common mistakes people make:

• Flushing non-Flush List meds-This is the #1 error. 34% of households in one Consumer Reports survey did this.
• Throwing pills in the trash without mixing-They can be dug out, crushed, and misused.
• Pouring liquid meds directly into the trash-They leak. They smell. They attract pests. Always mix with coffee grounds or kitty litter first.
• Using weak containers-A thin plastic bag or cardboard box won’t hold up. Use something sturdy.
• Leaving labels readable-Your name and prescription info can be used for identity theft.

One pharmacist in Arizona told me: “I’ve seen kids find pills in their dad’s trash because he just tossed the bottle. It’s terrifying.”

How to Find a Take-Back Location Near You

You don’t need to guess. Go to dea.gov/drugdisposal and use their locator tool. Or call your local pharmacy. Most big chains-CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Walmart-have drop boxes inside their pharmacy counters. Some police stations and hospitals do too.

Take-back events happen twice a year (April and October), but permanent locations are open all year. You don’t need an appointment. Just bring your meds in the original container. No questions asked.

Special Cases: Liquids, Patches, and Needles

Liquids: Pour them into a sealable container with coffee grounds or cat litter. Mix well. Seal. Trash.

Patches (like fentanyl or nicotine): Fold them in half with the sticky sides together. Flush only if on the FDA Flush List. Otherwise, mix with grounds and seal in a container before trash.

Needles and sharps: These are different. Don’t mix with meds. Use a sharps container. Many pharmacies sell them. Some mail-back programs include sharps disposal. Never put needles in the regular trash.

What’s Changing in 2025 and Beyond

The DEA plans to add 5,600 new take-back locations by the end of 2025, bringing the total to over 20,000. The EPA is rolling out a $37.5 million grant program to help rural communities build collection sites. Walmart and CVS are expanding their mail-back services. The FDA aims for 90% of Americans to use take-back programs by 2030.

Right now, only about 36% of people use them. The rest are still flushing, tossing, or hoarding. That’s changing-but only if you act.

Final Thought: It’s Not Just About Your Medicine

Disposing of expired meds isn’t a chore. It’s a safety habit-like locking your doors or wearing a seatbelt. Every pill you drop off at a take-back site is one less chance someone will overdose. One less toxin in our rivers. One less reason a child will get sick.

Next time you clean out your medicine cabinet, don’t just throw it away. Take it somewhere safe. It’s easier than you think-and it matters more than you know.