Handling and Disposal of Medication

GUIDELINES FOR PROPER DISPOSAL OF HOUSEHOLD MEDICATION

Over the counter and prescription medications should not be disposed down the drain because wastewater treatment facilities are not designed to remove pharmaceutical compounds. These medications may end up in local waterways, and may eventually be found in drinking water. Properly disposing of unwanted and expired prescriptions and over-the-counter medications in the trash promotes a healthy aquatic environment and prevents accidental poisoning as well as intentional abuse.

The Florham Park Police Department can now accept unwanted, unused and expired prescription medications 24 hours, 7 days a week. The unit is located in the main lobby of Florham Park Borough Hall (green bin).

For a 4 step guideline for proper disposal of household medication, click here

SAFE SYRINGE DISPOSAL GUIDE

Several options are available to safely dispose of used syringes:

Safe Syringe Disposal Program – Contact Morristown Medical Center for information: 973-971-5000.

Physicians – Ask your physician if he/she will take your used syringes once they are properly placed in a container.

Household Waste – Follow these steps to safely dispose of your syringes in your municipal trash:

Your syringes must be place in rigid containers that will protect people from needle sticks. Use containers that are unlikely to break open on the way to the landfill.

• You can use empty laundry detergent bottles or 2-liter soda bottles or other rigid containers with screw-on caps to dispose of needles and syringes. Also, check with a pharmacy to see if they sell commercial containers specially designed to hold sharps for disposal in your household trash.
• Place a large label with a warning on the empty container. For example: Syringes – Do Not Recycle
• Buy an inexpensive hand-held needle clipper from the pharmacy. Using anything other than a clipper to break a needle is not safe. After clipping the needle, carefully place each of the used needles and syringes into a plastic bottle with a screw-on lid. If possible, the user should clip the needle and syringe and place them in the container. If the user is unable, it is recommended that the caregiver consult with the individual’s physician for further instructions.
• Seal the bottle tightly with the original lid and wrap duct tape over the lid after you fill the bottle with syringes.
• You may now dispose of the tightly sealed full container of syringes in your household trash – NOT in your recycling bin.
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