Return unused medicines on World Environment Day

June 5: Together for a better environment and less medicine waste

Today is World Environment Day, a day of reflection worldwide on the importance of a healthy environment. What many people don't know: you too can contribute to this effort, simply by returning old or unused medicines to the pharmacy. It seems like a small gesture, but it prevents major damage to the environment as well as to our health.

Medicine residues are polluting the environment

According to the RIVM and the central government, hundreds of kilograms of medicine residues are found in surface water via the sewer system every year. These substances are only partially broken down in water treatment plants and therefore end up in rivers, ditches and lakes. This has major consequences:

Harmful substances disrupt the hormone balance of fish and other aquatic animals.
Antibiotics in the environment can lead to resistant bacteria.
Medicine residues affect the quality of drinking water sources.

This is why the central government advises never to flush medicines down the toilet or the sink, but always to hand them in at the pharmacy or the environmental centre. See also: rijksoverheid.nl.

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The pharmacy's role: safe collection and destruction

As a pharmacy, we take back unused or expired medications from you. We make sure they are safely stored and then professionally destroyed. This prevents them from ending up in the environment or being accidentally used by someone else.

Preventing is better than wasting

According to apotheek.nl you can do a lot yourself to prevent wasting medicine:

Control your medicine cabinet regularly and return old medicines.
Use only what you need. Contact your pharmacy if you are in doubt.
Don't order a new supply if you have enough left.
Make sure you store your medication properly to prevent spoilage.

The IGJ (Health Care and Youth Inspectorate) points out that wasting medication not only causes environmental damage, but also incurs unnecessary costs. And that while healthcare is already under pressure.

Together, we can make a difference today

Use this day, World Environment Day, as a time to take action:

Remove your medicine cabinet.
Check the expiration date.
Turn in expired or unused medications to the pharmacy.
Discuss with your pharmacist whether you still need everything.
Remove the labels from the boxes before turning them in to the pharmacist
Want to turn in needles? Then use a needle container to avoid needlestick injuries!

Small steps together make a big difference. For yourself, for others and for the planet.

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