Unwanted Medicines Collection
The City of Knoxville Police Department, Knox County Solid Waste, City of Knoxville Solid Waste, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, UT Academy of Student Pharmacists, and the Knox County Health Department jointly sponsor a unique Household Only Medication Collection program in our community.
Collection events and programs are part of a nationwide effort to reduce the amount of pharmaceutical products from getting into the water supply, into the hands of children, and to make sure they are disposed of in a safe, environmentally-friendly manner.
For more information about this medication collection and safe drug disposal event, contact either Drew Thurman at Knox County Solid Waste 215-5865 or Officer Craig McNew with the KPD at 215-7031.
Household Only
Household Medications are accepted at several regularly scheduled medication collection events OR at the permanent drop off box at the City of Knoxville Police Station
Permanent Drop Box - City of Knoxville Police Station
Residents may use the drop off box at anytime. twenty fours a day seven days a week, old or unused prescriptions and over the counter drugs may be brought to the Knoxville Police Department’s Safety Building, located at 800 Howard Baker Jr. Avenue, for disposal. The KPD maintains a secure collection container there on a permanent basis just inside the lobby. Contact Officer Craig McNew with the KPD at 215-7031 for more details about the permanent drop box.
Events
Events are regularly scheduled (usually one every few months). Events details will be announced at the top of the web page when scheduled.
What we take:
We accept unwanted, outdated, and expired prescription medicines (also veterinarian prescribed pet medications) and over the counter medications. Unused sharp medicines such as epinephrine allergy injections, unused pricking devices for monitors will be taken as long as they are still in the packaging and have never been used.
Used needles and other sharps should be disposed by placing the sharps/needles in a sealed plastic container (like an empty bleach bottle) and putting that in with your household waste.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
Participants are encouraged to remove or mark through all personal information in order to safeguard privacy information. Permanent markers are provided at the event.
Needles, Sharps, Hazardous Medications
Please advise the individual who collects your medicine from you (or make a note if using the drop box) if you think we need to take special precautions or if you have unused medicines that use sharps for delivery (needles, syringes, finger prick devices, etc). Some chemotherapy medicines may need special treatment.
Used needles and other sharps should be disposed by placing the sharps/needles in a sealed plastic container (like an empty bleach bottle) and putting that in with your household waste.
What are PPCPs?
Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) include prescription and over the counter drugs, fragrances, cosmetics, sun screen agents, nutritional supplements and herbs. The U.S. EPA considers the presence of PPCPs in the environment one of the most significant emerging threats of the 21st century. Unwanted Pharmaceuticals are both an environmental (water treatment, landfills, etc) and a health and safety problem (accidental overdose, illegal possession, theft)
How Do Drugs Affect Our Environment?
Current research provides evidence on a range of impacts to living organisms. Estrogens cause male fish to become female. Antidepressants cause lobsters to become more aggressive. Prozac induces reproduction in shellfish. These are just a few examples of PPCPs impact on the environment.
How Do PPCPs Affect Human Health?
The evidence for the direct consequences of PPCPs on humans is only beginning to be investigated. A landmark study in 2006 found that a mix of 13 common medications common to drinking water inhibits cell growth in human embryonic cells. This is one of the few studies that look at how mixtures of prevalent medications can affect biological activity even at low concentrations.
Why Are There Unused Drugs?
We rely heavily on pharmaceuticals in our current medical systems. Drug consumption in the U.S. has grown 109% from 2000-2004. 4 out of 5 patients leave their doctor’s office with at least one prescription. Doctors often discontinue medications, causing others to go unused. Consumers also purchase certain drugs in large quantities that eventually expire. A recent take-back program in San Francisco found the average household had 2.7 pounds of unwanted or expired drugs.
Who Is Responsible For Disposing Unused Medicines?
Currently, pharmacists, law enforcement agencies and municipal waste organizations are taking the most responsibility for properly disposing of unused drugs. To achieve zero waste, “cradle to cradle” product stewardship is necessary. This means everyone including the manufacturers, distributors, retail pharmacies, physicians, veterinarians and consumers all participate in unused product recycling and disposal.
PPCPs enter the environment in several ways:
- Unwanted drugs are disposed in the toiler or sink
- Passed from the body to the sewage system
- Sewage treatment plants can rarely remove these medications
Consumers Can:
- Dispose of unused or unwanted medications at take-back sites
- Do NOT dispose of any medication down the toilet
- Purchase drugs in small amounts, limiting expired medications
- Ask for medications with low environmental impact
- Encourage your health provider to take back unused and expired drugs
- Commit to health and wellness strategies to reduce your reliance on medications
- Choose meat and poultry raised without hormones and antibiotics
Healthcare Providers:
- Do not prescribe more medication than can be used
- Prescribe starter packs and refill packs
- Review and regularly reassess the patient’s total consumption of medication
- Learn which drugs have the highest eco-toxicity
- Educate patients, consumers and colleagues about the importance of proper disposal of pharmaceutical waste
Other Resources:
