That forgotten half-finished packet of expired tablets or bottle of medicine tucked away in your cupboard could be doing more harm than you realise, warns Tambo Memorial Hospital (TMH).

TMH is urging residents to take a closer look at the medicines they no longer use and dispose of them responsibly, warning that improper disposal puts families, communities and the environment at risk.

If you usually throw expired medicine in the bin, flush it down the toilet or keep it ‘just in case’, you may unknowingly be putting your loved ones and the environment in danger.

“Many households dispose of unused medication by simply throwing it away. Others flush tablets down the toilet, pour liquid medicines into drains, bury them in the garden or pass them on to friends or relatives who may have similar symptoms,” said the hospital’s pharmacy manager, Kwanele Zondo.

Why it matters
According to TMH, these seemingly harmless actions can have serious consequences. Medicines that enter drains or are buried in the ground can contaminate water sources and damage the environment.

Unused medication left lying around the home can also lead to accidental poisoning, particularly among young children, while sharing prescription medicine can result in dangerous side effects, incorrect treatment and medicine misuse.

While people often have good intentions when they share medication with a family member or neighbour, the hospital cautioned that prescription medicines are prescribed for a specific patient and should never be used by anyone else.

Dispose of medication the right way
TMH encourages the public to make safe medicine disposal part of their routine by returning expired or unused medication to authorised collection points, where it can be disposed of safely and in accordance with health regulations.

Zondo reiterated that every resident has a role to play in protecting both public health and the environment.

“By taking a few extra minutes to return unused medication, every member of the community can play a role in protecting the environment, preventing medicine misuse, and keeping families safe. Responsible disposal is a shared responsibility that benefits everyone.”

A small action that makes a big difference
The campaign is aimed at all community members, especially people living with chronic illnesses, caregivers and households where medicines are stored for long periods.

Health professionals advise residents to:

• Never flush unused or expired medication down the toilet.
• Never pour medicines into municipal drains or bury them in the ground.
• Never share prescription medication with another person.
• Return unused or expired medicines to an authorised collection point.

Unused medication can be safely returned to:

• Hospitals
• Clinics
• Pharmacies where the medication was dispensed
• Police stations
• Authorised Central Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) collection points

That simple step can help prevent pollution, protect vulnerable family members and reduce the risk of medicine misuse in the community.