Find a Drop-Off Location
Find a Drop-Off Location

British Columbia

Returning Medications

Chances are you have medications in your medicine cabinet that you’ve been holding onto “just in case,” not realizing they’re expired or you no longer need them.

Simply return them free of charge to a participating HPSA collection location, including your local pharmacy.

Never flush medications, pour them down the sink or throw them in the garbage. Improper disposal can contaminate waterways and put people, pets, communities and the environment at risk. 

Program by Province

Select your province to learn what medications can be returned.
British Columbia
Manitoba
Ontario
Quebec
New Brunswick
Prince Edward Island
What’s Accepted?
  • Prescription drugs (pills, liquids or creams, including cytotoxics and opioids)
  • Over-the-counter medications (pills, liquids and creams)
  • Natural health products (vitamins, minerals, herbal remedies and probiotics)
  • Inhalers
  • Medical cannabis/marijuana (prescription only)
  • Medication patches
  • Eye drops (prescription and over-the-counter)
What’s Not Accepted?
  • Anti-dandruff products
  • Antiperspirants
  • Antiseptics
  • Biomedical or anatomical waste
  • Contact lens disinfectants
  • Cosmetic products
  • COVID-19 tests
  • Empty pill medication bottles or other containers (recycle where available)
  • Eye drops without a DIN (lubricant eye drops)
  • Fluoridated toothpaste
  • Food products
  • Medical sharps (needles, syringes and lancets) – return via HPSA’s Medical Sharps Return Program
  • Methadone or methadone cups
  • Mouthwash
  • Pharmaceutical waste produced by the collection location (new or expired stock) - pharmacies, hospitals, long-term care homes, nursing homes, or doctor’s offices
  • Sunburn protectants
  • Topical products that do not contain antibiotics or antifungal agents

How to return unwanted medications

  • Check around your home and medicine cabinet for unwanted or expired medications.
  • Recycle product packaging where possible.
  • Place tablets and capsules in a bag.
  • Keep liquids and creams in their original containers (remove personal information labels).
  • Store them safely, out of reach of children and pets, until you're ready to return them.
  • Return them safely to your nearest participating collection location.
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A guide To Return Unwanted Medications

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