What to Do With Pill Bottles and Unused Pills
I have many prescription bottles of unused pills. Some from wisdom teeth extraction, others from a recent bout of food poisoning and steam from my squeaky sore joints.
While basic logic might assume that pill bottles are recyclable like any other plastic and pills should go to the trash, is there a definite answer to any scenario?
Well, your options are definitely different. For context, your typical OTC pill vials are usually made from # 1 polyethylene terephthalate (also known as PET or PETE) or # 2 high density polyethylene. If you are interested in these orange opaque bottles, then they are often made from polypropylene # 5 or PP.
More often than not, your curbside recycling program is likely to accept these tough plastics. (Most businesses accept # 1 and # 2 plastics, and the practice of recycling polypropylene has become much more common, although there are exceptions.)
However, sometimes the problem for some businesses is the size and color of the pill bottle. As Recycle Nation writes, because the pill bottle is small and often tinted, there is a chance your local recycling program may not be able to take them and send them to landfill instead.
What if you are unsure about the bottles? It is best to search the Internet for your curbside recycling program and contact them to see if there is any problem for recyclers. (And if they do accept them, be sure to empty the bottle and remove or cover the label. Deleting your information is imperative for your privacy.)
Some organizations, such as Matthew: 25 Ministries , will also accept both over-the-counter and prescription reusable bottles of all sizes for the delivery of health care products to developing countries. You can send them to the address listed on the organization’s website and be sure to thoroughly clean the bottles according to the instructions provided.
As for unused pills, don’t flush them down the toilet, where they might end up in our waterways (although there are a few exceptions, as noted by the FDA , such as OxyContin). If you have pills, check if your local pharmacy is participating in the prescription drug takeback program. For safety reasons (and obviously), your tablets will not be reused or recycled, but will be disposed of properly, probably by incineration.
For example, some Walgreens stores will allow you to donate pills and vials. CVS also has a change pointer on its website , so you can find the nearest container for bottled pills. You can also use the Drug Enforcement Administration’s locator to find the nearest collection point for pills.
The FDA website also has detailed guidelines for disposing of tablets if you choose to throw them in the trash can, including mixing the tablets with earth or cat litter (yes) and placing them in an airtight bag.