Medication Disposal

Check your medication labels – chances are you have expired or unused medicines, vitamins and over-the-counter products in your home. Return these unused medications to your pharmacist for environmentally safe disposal! Throwing medicines in the trash or flushing them down the toilet is unsafe and can harm the environment.

Here are some helpful tips for when returning your unused medication to your pharmacist:

  • When returning needles they must be in a SHARPS container and not mixed with any other medications.
  • If returning liquids and powders leave in original packaging. 
  • Remove capsules or tablets from vials or blister packaging and place in a sealed plastic bag.
  • For privacy, remove any identifying labels or information.

To find a pharmacy that participates in ENVIRx (drug disposal program) click here.

About the ENVIRx Program

Through the ENVIRx program partnership, pharmacists promote safe and effective medication use while providing Albertans with a safe way to return unused and expired medications through their local community pharmacy. Last year, the ENVIRx program collected over 100 tonnes of dead drugs and used needles, keeping these substances out of land fills and our ground water supplies, towards a safer and healthier environment for all Albertans.   

By bringing in your old mediations to your pharmacy, it presents an opportunity to touch base with your pharmacist and talk about a medication that hasn’t worked or a perhaps a situation that has changed. Your pharmacist is available to help you with all your medication questions.

Proud Supporter of the ENVIRx Program

Innovative Medicines Canada is the national association representing the voice of Canada’s innovative pharmaceutical industry.

IMC Members include: 

  • AbbVie Corporation
  • Amicus Therapeutics Canada Inc.
  • Amgen Canada Inc.
  • Argenx Canada Inc.
  • Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc.
  • AstraZeneca Canada, Inc.
  • Bayer Inc.
  • BioCryst Canada
  • Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd.
  • Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada
  • Eli Lilly Canada Inc.
  • Elvium Life Sciences
  • EMD Serono, A division of EMD Inc.
  • Emergent BioSolutions Canada Inc.
  • Gilead Sciences Canada, Inc.
  • GlaxoSmithKline Inc.
  • Hoffmann-La Roche Limited
  • Horizon Therapeutics Canada
  • Incyte Biosciences Canada
  • Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals Canada Inc.
  • Janssen Inc.
  • Knight Therapeutics Inc.
  • LEO Pharma Inc.
  • Lundbeck Canada Inc.
  • Merck Canada Inc.
  • Nordic Pharma Americas, Asia and Pacific
  • Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc.
  • Novocure Canada Inc.
  • Novo Nordisk Canada Inc.
  • Otsuka Canada Pharmaceutical Inc.
  • Paladin Labs Inc.
  • Pfizer Canada
  • Rhythm Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc.
  • Sanofi Canada
  • Santen Canada Inc.
  • Servier Canada Inc.
  • Sobi Canada, Inc.
  • Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc.
  • Takeda Canada Inc.
  • Valeo Pharma Inc.