Unused medicines that pharmacies won't accept, feel free to drop them off here

Remaining medication from taking is collected at health centers, pharmacies, community centers, etc.

Many pharmacies will not accept actual expired medications. What should you do if the health center or community center is far away?

Do not dispose of expired medicines carelessly.

Expired medicines are considered 'hazardous waste' because of their complex chemical structures and diverse physiological activities.

The indiscriminate disposal of expired medicines in per-unit waste bags, sinks, and toilets is complex.

It permeates our water and land while retaining its active ability.

Of course, it has a devastating impact on marine ecosystems and ultimately affects humans through the food chain.

It can spread resistant bacteria such as superbugs.

Many pharmacies do not dispense medication.

In principle, expired medicines should be disposed of in dedicated collection bins placed at community centers, health centers, pharmacies, and similar locations.

Pills should be discarded after separating the contents from the packaging, but for powders, liquids, and inhalers for asthma, such as

Medications stored in special containers do not need to have their packaging removed.

The collected expired medicines are disposed of in a dedicated incinerator under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment.

However, many pharmacies do not accept expired medicines.

Each local government has different collection policies, and some have not collected expired medicines for a long time.

This is because the issue has been raised that the workload on pharmacies without collection obligations is increasing.

In 2021, the Seoul Pharmacists Association also announced that they would no longer accept expired medicines at pharmacies.

Most citizens who were refused at the pharmacy due to this are at nearby health centers or community centers.

We need to find a medication disposal bin.

◇ Pills and powder medicines should be sealed and placed in the mailbox.

To address this issue, the Ministry of Environment has signed an agreement with the Korea Post to install mailboxes.

It is being used as a collection bin for expired medicines.

However, there are many local governments that do not carry out this project, so it is necessary to check carefully.

As of the end of last month, which local governments collect expired medicines through mailboxes?

▲Seoul's 25 autonomous districts ▲Sejong ▲Imsil County, Jeollabuk-do ▲Sunchang County ▲Naju City, Jeollanam-do

▲Gwangju Gwangsan-gu and Dong-gu ▲Gangwon Donghae City and Samcheok City, among 42 others.

As local governments increasingly utilize the Korea Post, which had previously been focused mainly on pharmacies,

The burden of collecting expired medicines is expected to be alleviated.

The method of disposing of expired medicines in the mailbox is simple.

Dedicated collection envelopes distributed at community centers, health centers, or branch offices of the National Health Insurance Corporation

Put pills or powdered medicine into a regular paper or plastic bag, seal the bag well, and write 'unused medicines' on it.

You can put it in the nearest mailbox.

The location of the mailbox can be found through the QR code printed on the dedicated envelope.

However, the dispensed powdered medicine and tablets remain in their sealed state.

The purchased pills should be disposed of in their original packaged state.

Liquid medicines such as potions or syrups should be disposed of at the existing community center, not the mailbox.

It must be disposed of in the collection box installed at the health center or similar facilities.