Things You Should Never Flush Down The Toilet

Unused or expired medications should never be flushed. It may seem like a safe way dispose of drugs and keep them away from children, animals, and adults, but flushing medications can have a lasting impact.

“Wastewater treatment plants are not designed to remove pharmaceuticals, and we know that some drugs pass largely unaltered through our treatment plants and enter rivers and other waters,” said Kevin O. Frazier, a public information officer at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. “Pharmaceuticals can pollute downstream drinking water intakes and can be harmful to fish and other aquatic organisms.”

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Many medications like antidepressants, hormones, and antibiotics are found in drinking water and in lakes, rivers, and streams. Improper disposal, agricultural use, and medications excreted in urine or feces are all to blame.

While the medications in the water supply or surface waters are currently at low enough concentrations to not be harmful to humans, it’s important to keep those levels from growing in order to protect wildlife and our water sources.
 

Where they really belong:

Drop off unused or expired medications at a take-back program near you. Many cities host medication collections, and it’s becoming more common for local pharmacies, hospitals, and police stations to have a collection bins.