Old Pill Bottles: Recycle, Reuse, or Donate
Even the healthiest people regularly fill prescriptions and use over-the-counter medications. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost half of all Americans are on at least one prescription drug. That means that old pill bottles are being used and thrown away at an alarming rate, adding more unnecessary waste to our landfills.
Prescription pill bottles are made of recyclable plastic, meaning they don’t have to end up in landfills. Plastic recycling is critical for sustainability. It conserves natural resources and energy needed to create new plastic, saves landfill space, and prevents microplastics from polluting our water and soil.
Proper recycling and safe alternatives should be considered when disposing of pill bottles. If you’re interested in what to do with old pill bottles, read on to learn about your options for reusing, recycling, and donating.
Why You Shouldn’t Throw Old Pill Bottles Away
Prescription pill bottles are usually translucent orange containers with a white, childproof lid. These bottles are made of polypropylene, which is commonly referred to as #5 plastic. You can try to recycle this plastic, but it’s not always accepted by municipal recycling services. This type of plastic is also hard and heat resistant, making it difficult to recycle. The small size of pill bottles is also problematic.
Many recycling centers use a trommel to sort recycled materials. A trommel is a cylindrical screen that rotates to remove contaminants from the recycling stream. Small items like old pill bottles fall through the holes and are thrown away instead of recycled. This is why it’s so important to avoid throwing them in with your household trash.
Donating Old Pill Bottles
Did you know you can donate used prescription bottles? Many charitable organizations, local shelters and clinics, and other groups have uses for old pill bottles. They’ll collect them to send to places where medical supplies are needed. They accept clean prescription and over-the-counter pill bottles of varying sizes. Check each group’s guidelines before sending to confirm what they can accept.
Repurposing Old Pill Bottles
Repurposing your old pill bottles is easy if you get creative. Pill bottles can be made into a number of useful things. While this list is by no means exhaustive, it provides a few uses for old pill bottles to get your started.
- Seed storage
- Hide-a-key container
- Travel toiletry bottles
- Mini first-aid kit
- Travel jewelry holder
- Workbench containers
- Earbud container
- Crafting projects
Recycling Old Pill Bottles
Though local recycling services may not accept old pill bottles, it is easy to find a recycling service that will. Medical Waste Pros partners with recycling experts nationwide specializing in pill bottle recycling services. Our providers can wash and recycle or shred your bottles.
Pick-up, drop-off, and mailback recycling services are typically available, depending on your location. Check with your provider to make sure they accept plastic bottle caps. Some providers ask you to separate the caps, while others prefer them left on. Drop off your bottles or fill a box for mailback or pickup. Your bottles will then be safely and properly recycled with professional services.
How to Prepare Your Old Pill Bottles for Disposal
No matter how you choose to dispose of your old pill bottles, you will need to prepare your bottles. It’s necessary to dispose of any remaining medication, clean out any leftover medication residue, and remove your personal information. Prescription labels feature protected health information (PHI), including your name, address, and prescription number. Criminals can gain access to and steal your medical records using PHI, so it’s crucial to make sure it is inaccessible.
Here’s a quick list to help you prepare your pill bottles for disposal:
- Sort your bottles by color and type. Over-the-counter medication bottles typically look different than prescription bottles. Recycling options may differ for different types of plastic and larger bottles.
- Remove labels and sticky residue. Some labels can be easily peeled off. Others may need to be submerged in boiling water. Sticky residue can be removed with alcohol wipes. You can skip this step if your recycling service includes shredding.
- Wash bottles and lids using hot water and soap to remove any drug residue. Rinse and dry them well. You can skip this step if your recycling service includes washing.
- Bag or box your bottles according to the program’s guidelines. Get creative if you are repurposing your bottles.
Old Pill Bottle Disposal With Medical Waste Pros
With all of the alternatives available today, old pill bottles no longer have to end up in landfills. Whether you reuse them yourself, recycle them, or donate them to help others, disposing of old pill bottles properly will go a long way toward reducing the environmental impact.
If you want the convenience of having your old pill bottles picked up, Medical Waste Pros can help. We have trusted providers nationwide who will come to your home or office and take your old pill bottles away for recycling and compliant disposal. Our providers can also help with other types of medical waste disposal, including pharmaceutical waste, biohazardous waste, used sharps, chemotherapy waste, and more.
Give us a call at (888) 755-6370 or fill out the form to connect with providers near you. We will send you free, no-obligation price quotes on medical waste disposal services in just minutes.
