Waste stream

Medicines and medical waste

Examples, preparation rules and common exceptions for medicines and medical waste.

In brief: Medicine take-back point.

Typical examples

  • expired medicines — Pharmacy collection. Do not pour into drains. Remove the outer carton for paper recycling, but return blister packs or bottles with residues as medicine.
  • ointment with residue — Pharmacy collection. Do not pour into drains. Remove the outer carton for paper recycling, but return blister packs or bottles with residues as medicine.
  • medicine ampoule — Pharmacy collection. Do not pour into drains. Remove the outer carton for paper recycling, but return blister packs or bottles with residues as medicine.

How to prepare it

Do not pour into drains. Remove the outer carton for paper recycling, but return blister packs or bottles with residues as medicine.

Most common mistake

Colour or outer material alone is not enough. The item purpose, residues and local rules all matter.

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