How to Properly Dispose of Old Household Medication, Sharps, and Medical Waste

Expired pills, used needles, old inhalers, and medical supplies often accumulate silently in bathroom cabinets, closets, and drawers. However, disposing of medical waste in regular trash or flushing it can pose significant environmental and safety dangers.

For households in the Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland, finding medical waste disposal in Surrey and nearby cities can be confusing, especially when dealing with sharps, prescriptions, or sensitive medical materials.

Learning how to properly manage household medical waste is one of the easiest ways to protect your family, sanitation workers, and the environment.

Why Medical Waste at Home Is a Bigger Problem Than You Think

Medical waste isn’t just a hospital issue. Homes generate it every day, especially from:

• Diabetes care (needles, lancets, test strips)

• Home injections and IV supplies

• Expired or unused prescriptions

• Inhalers and aerosols

• Chemotherapy or biologic medications

• Bandages and contaminated supplies

  
  

When these items go into household garbage, they can:

• Injure waste collection and recycling workers

• Release pharmaceutical chemicals into waterways

• Create legal and environmental compliance issues

• Allow drugs to be misused or diverted

That’s why medical waste disposal at home must be handled carefully and correctly.

How to Dispose of Old and Unused Medications

Never flush medications down the sink or toilet unless the label specifically instructs you to do so. Many drugs survive wastewater treatment and end up in rivers, oceans, and drinking water systems.

The safest options include:

1. Pharmacy Take-Back Programs

Most pharmacies in British Columbia accept:

• Expired prescriptions

• Unused pills, capsules, and liquids

• Over-the-counter medications

These programs ensure pharmaceuticals are destroyed safely and cannot be misused.

2. Household Hazardous Waste Facilities

For larger volumes, specialty medications, or medical liquids, TakemyHazWaste can handle pharmaceutical disposal through our hazardous waste diversion network.

How to Dispose of Sharps (Needles, Syringes & Lancets)

Sharps are one of the most dangerous forms of household medical waste.

Never put loose needles into the trash or recycling.

Safe Sharps Disposal Steps

1. Place needles and lancets into a puncture-proof sharps container (or a thick plastic bottle with a screw lid if needed).

2. Seal and label the container clearly as “Sharps – Do Not Recycle.”

3. Bring the container to a pharmacy or authorized disposal site, or arrange pickup through a licensed hazardous waste provider like TakemyHazWaste.

This protects sanitation workers, depot staff, and your own household.

What Counts as Household Medical Waste?

Many people are surprised by how much medical waste they actually have at home.

This includes:

• IV tubing

• Syringes and needles

• Inhalers

• Blood-testing strips

• Contaminated bandages

• Medical gloves

• Chemotherapy supplies

• Old medical devices

All of these should be diverted from landfills through medical waste disposal services or approved drop-off locations.

Why Proper Medical Waste Disposal Matters

Improper disposal doesn’t just create mess, it poses risk.

Correct medical waste handling:

• Prevents needle-stick injuries

• Keeps pharmaceuticals out of drinking water

• Reduces liability for homeowners and landlords

• Protects pets, kids, and sanitation workers

• Supports environmental and public health

It’s one of the easiest ways to turn a small habit into a big safety upgrade.

How TakemyHazWaste Can Help

TakemyHazWaste provides licensed medical waste diversion services for both households and businesses across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.

We offer:

• Secure drop-off locations

• On-site pickups for larger quantities

• Sharps and pharmaceutical handling

• Full compliance with BC hazardous waste regulations

If it doesn’t belong in the trash, we’ll make sure it doesn’t end up there.

Take Control of Your Medicine Cabinet

If you’ve got old prescriptions, used needles, or medical supplies collecting dust, now’s the perfect time to clear them out safely.

Book a pickup or visit a TakemyHazWaste transfer station today and keep your home safer, cleaner, and fully compliant, without the guesswork.