Medicine drop boxes may be a practical option for the disposal of unwanted medicinal products. Sited in convenient locations, they would receive prescription and non-prescription products removing wastes accumulating in the family home, and facilitating disposal of products that would contaminate the wider environment when disposed with domestic refuse or flushed down the toilet.

Drop boxes are everywhere. For clothes, shoes, glass, paper, tin cans, even for guns and knives and though some of the former are raided to recover clothing items for immediate re-use or sale, acceptance of knife bins on the streets of London and elsewhere must demonstrate their inherent safety. So why not a box for unwanted medicines?

In the US they are generally successful, though may be subject to budget cuts. Making an effort to collect unwanted medicines, that must operate in parallel with schemes to promote better and lean prescribing, will make a tremendous difference to contamination of water supplies with pharmaceutical residues. A recent Cumberland (Pennsylvania) County medicine collection set a record with 673 pounds of medications dropped off in one half day; and amazingly, all this came from just 270 residents!

It makes a difference. It needs funding, but will bring inestimable benefit to the environment. Perhaps funding may be provided from a multi-agency partnership comprising PCTs, Environment Agencies, Local Authorities and Water companies.

Remember, you heard it here on teh Clinical Waste Discussion Forum first…but don’t hold your breath waiting!