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(Representational cover image courtesy ACS)
Every household has them — expired strips of paracetamol, leftover antibiotics from last year’s flu, or a syrup bottle that was opened and forgotten. Most of us either flush these down the toilet or toss them in the bin. But did you know that these small actions can have a big impact on our environment?
The hidden threat in your medicine cabinet
India is one of the largest producers and consumers of pharmaceuticals globally. According to a study by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), India generates approximately 484 tonnes of biomedical waste per day, a significant chunk of which includes unused and expired medicines from homes, clinics and pharmacies. Unfortunately, there is no formal nationwide system for collecting and safely disposing of household medicines.
When medicines are flushed or dumped in landfills, their active ingredients can seep into soil and water, harming aquatic life and contaminating our drinking water. Studies have noted that improper disposal contributes to the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which makes common infections harder to treat.
In Bengaluru alone, gaps in biomedical waste management have led to medicines being mixed with general waste, often ending up in open dumps or being burned in the open, releasing toxic fumes and posing risks to waste pickers and residents.
So, what can you do?
In India, the absence of drug take-back programmes makes disposal tricky, but there are safer ways to manage unused medicines responsibly:
1. Don’t flush them away
Flushing pills or pouring syrups down the sink may seem like an easy fix, but this allows chemicals to enter water systems, further polluting larger water bodies. According to the Indian Health Service (IHS), even water treatment plants aren’t designed to filter out pharmaceutical compounds.
Instead of flushing them down, mix medicines with something unpleasant like used tea leaves, coffee grounds, or cat litter. Put the mixture in a sealed bag or container and throw it with household waste. This discourages misuse and keeps scavengers safe.
2. Scratch or remove labels
Before discarding medicine containers or blister packs, remove or scratch out personal information to protect your privacy.
3. Donate — but carefully
If the medicines are unopened, unexpired, and stored well, you could consider donating them to NGOs or clinics, but always confirm if they accept such donations. Here are a few places and organisations where you can give expired or unused medicines:
SMS Hospital, Jaipur: In a unique initiative, the hospital collects unused but unexpired medicines from homes and redistributes them to patients in need through its Drug Bank programme.
Contact- 0141 256 0291
Indian Red Cross Society (in select branches): Occasionally accepts unused, unopened medicines, especially during medical relief camps. It’s best to call the local chapter and confirm.
Goonj: While they primarily focus on clothing and disaster relief material, Goonj sometimes supports rural healthcare efforts in partnership with grassroots organisations. Reach out to their team to explore if they’re currently accepting medical donations:
Aware India Foundation, Hyderabad: Conducts occasional collection drives for expired medicines and distributes usable stock to rural areas.
Pharmacies like Apollo and MedPlus: Some local branches in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi informally accept returns of expired medicines, especially if purchased from them. Always check with your nearest branch.
4. Partner with CPCB-Authorised disposal facilities
If you’re an institution, clinic, or pharmacy with large quantities of medicine waste, you’re legally required to dispose of it through CPCB-authorised biomedical waste management agencies.
A few examples include:
Biotic Waste Solutions Pvt Ltd (Delhi NCR): Offers door-to-door collection and proper disposal of biomedical waste.
Maridi Bio Industries Pvt Ltd (Bengaluru): Handles pharmaceutical and other biomedical waste in Karnataka.
For individuals generating small quantities, contact your nearest urban municipal body or health department to check if they have a tie-up with such facilities.
What needs to change?
Experts believe that India needs a structured drug take-back system led by the government and supported by pharmacies and hospitals. Countries like the United States and the United Kingdom have well-established systems where residents can return unused medicines at designated collection points.
Kerala has become the first state in the country to implement the ‘nPROUD’ project, designed to scientifically collect and safely dispose of expired and unused medicines. Launched by the State Drugs Control Department, the initiative ‘nPROUD’ (New Programme for Removal of Unused Drugs) will facilitate the collection of unused medicines from households and ensure their proper disposal at designated locations.
Until then, awareness is key. Pharmacists, healthcare workers, and citizens must be informed about the environmental and health hazards of improper medicine disposal. Educational institutions like Vivekananda Education Society (VES) College of Pharmacy are already trying to spread this message through student-led outreach programmes.
When each of us makes the effort to dispose of medicines the right way, we contribute to a cleaner, healthier future.
So the next time you open your medicine drawer and spot an expired tablet strip, remember: It’s not just waste — it’s a responsibility.
Edited by Saumya Singh
