Birth control pills, taken once daily, help prevent a female from conceiving. For various reasons, such as becoming pregnant or experiencing unwanted side effects, a woman may stop taking the medication in the middle of a package of pills and will need to dispose of the remaining tablets in her supply. Proper disposal of medications helps protect the environment, as well as preventing the possibility of them becoming accessible to children or pets. Disposal options vary depending on local resources.
Step 1
Avoid flushing the birth control pills down the toilet or rinsing them down the sink drain. Pills that enter the sewer system can eventually end up in streams and drinking water. Oral contraceptives in the water may cause an increased population of intersexed fish, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Step 2
Find a local hazardous waste collection program. Call the local government trash disposal service to see if there is a prescription drug disposal program available. Areas may also have a community-wide collection of household hazardous waste programs.
Step 3
Take unused birth control pills to a local pharmacy. Many pharmacies have programs designed to take unused pills for disposal. After collecting old medications, the pharmacist places them into a secure bin for disposal. Only licensed pharmacists and techs can handle these medications, according to the National Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal Network.
Step 4
Throw unused birth control pills into the trash, if there is no collection area available. Remove them from the original packaging before disposal. Change the appearance of the birth control pills. Crush the medication and dispose of the powder, dilute the pills in water before throwing in the trash or mix the pills with undesirable products—used coffee grounds or cat litter, for example. Place the mixture or crushed birth control pills into a container with a lid, such as a childproof pill bottle, before throwing it in the trash.
Step 5
Mark over or scratch out patient information on the prescription drug label before throwing the birth control pills into the trash. This protects the identity and personal medical information of the birth control pill owner.
Step 6
Wrap duct tape around the blister pack of the birth control pills. Continue to wrap until covering the entire package.
References
- The National Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal Network
- The Office of National Drug Control Policy: Proper Disposal of Prescription Drugs
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: How to Dispose of Unused Medicines
- U.S. Geological Survey: Intersex in Smallmouth Bass Coincident with Population and Agriculture in Potomac Watershed
