Why should I bring my medications back for disposal? Can I flush them down the drain?

Medications that are flushed down the toilet enter the wastewater treatment systems, which clean up the water. However, these systems are not designed to remove complex chemicals, which will eventually contaminate our beautiful streams, rivers and lakes. Although the concentrations may be very low, they may be enough to hurt fish and other aquatic wildlife and indirectly, human health. For example, medications like hormones, anti-depressants, or endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) could affect the growth and reproduction of aquatic species, as well increase bacterial antibiotic resistance. Finally, these trace amounts may eventually reach our drinking water. The long-term exposure to vulnerable populations, such as pregnant women, newborn and children could have long-lasting adverse consequences. To reduce the impact on our ecosystem and our health, it is important to stop disposing of medications down the drain.

What about throwing them in the garbage can?

Studies have shown that medicines in a landfill can still be released into the environment locally. Medicines have been found in liquid decomposition, or leachate. This landfill liquid or “garbage juice” may be collected and sent to waste water treatment plants. Yet again, since these treatment plants are not designed to remove complex chemicals, the products may eventually be discharged to large bodies of water, such as rivers and lakes.

What products can I bring back for disposal and what happens to them?

You can bring back your expired or unused prescription medications, over the counter products (OTCs), natural health products (NHPs) and inhalers back to the pharmacy for safe disposal. We do NOT take back cosmetic products.

MJ’s is registered with the Medications Return Program. All products will be safely incinerated, which will prevent these chemicals from entering our biological ecosystems.

How should I bring them back?

Please remove the products from their packaging and throw them into a ziplock or plastic bag. The packaging should be recycled appropriately. Please also remove any of your personal details before returning your products.

Do you take sharps disposals?

Yes, filled sharps containers can be brought back to the pharmacy and we can safely dispose of the contents in a safe way.

To be eligible for Fair PharmaCare you must have:

• Valid BC MSP and
• Filed an income tax return for the relevant taxation year (i.e. two years ago). However, if you are a new Canadian Resident, since you have not filed an income tax return in Canada, you will be required to provide your income from all sources (inside/outside Canada) for the last year.