How to get rid of old medicines safely (free at the pharmacy)

Prescriptions & medicines ·Published 10 October 2026 ·Reviewed 10 October 2026

Written by the Priceline Pharmacy Pacific Fair team. Reviewed by Jason Markey, BPharmSci, MPharm, Owner and Pharmacist.

General health information from a registered pharmacist. It doesn’t replace advice from your own pharmacist or doctor.

The safest way to get rid of old or unwanted medicines in Australia is to take them to a community pharmacy. Under the national Return Unwanted Medicines program, pharmacies take back expired and unwanted medicines free of charge, and they’re destroyed, mostly by high-temperature incineration. Please don’t put them in the household bin or flush them down the toilet.

If you’re clearing out the bathroom cabinet, bring everything to the prescription counter at Priceline Pharmacy Pacific Fair and our team will take care of it. Here’s what you can return, what needs to go elsewhere, and how to tell when a medicine is past its expiry date.

How does the Return Unwanted Medicines program work?

The Return Unwanted Medicines (RUM) program is an Australian Government program. The Department of Health now calls it the National Return and Disposal of Unwanted Medicines (NatRUM) Program. It says you can return expired and unwanted medicines to any participating community pharmacy in Australia, and there’s no cost to you or to the pharmacy. The Pharmacy Guild notes that most community pharmacies take part.

Your pharmacist places the medicines in a special collection bin, and they’re later destroyed, mostly through high-temperature incineration in line with environmental protection requirements.

A few things worth knowing:

• You don’t need to unpack anything. The Pharmacy Guild says there’s no need to remove labels or packaging. Just hand your medicines to the pharmacist.
• Tell us what you’re bringing in. The TGA notes that some medicines, such as strong pain relievers, may need to be stored or processed separately by the pharmacist.
• It isn’t only for prescription medicines. Over-the-counter products, vitamins and even pet medicines can be returned.

What can you return to the pharmacy?

Based on the lists from the TGA, healthdirect and the Pharmacy Guild, you can return:

• prescription medicines, including expired ones
• over-the-counter medicines
• vitamins and supplements
• herbal and complementary medicines
• gels, creams and liquids
• pet medicines

What can’t go in the medicines bin?

The Pharmacy Guild lists these as items not to return through the medicines program:

• used sharps, such as needles
• thermometers
• cosmetics and personal care products
• vapes

What should you do with used needles and sharps?

If you use insulin, other injections or a finger-prick device, your used sharps need their own disposal route. healthdirect advises:

• Never put sharps in your household general waste bin.
• Put used sharps straight into a purpose-made sharps container. healthdirect notes these are available from pharmacies.
• When the container is full, take it to a hospital, some pharmacies and medical centres, or a community sharps bin run by your local council.

healthdirect also points to Diabetes Australia’s safe sharps resource for disposal locations around the country. On the Gold Coast, contact your local council to find out where to take a full container.

Why shouldn’t you put medicines in the bin or down the toilet?

healthdirect warns that flushing medicines down the toilet or putting them in a rubbish bin can be dangerous and can harm the environment. The Department of Health says safe disposal through pharmacies helps prevent:

• accidental poisoning of children
• misuse of medicines
• toxic releases into the environment

The Pharmacy Guild adds that even medicines thrown into landfill can leach back into the food chain. The TGA singles out strong pain relievers: binning or flushing them is dangerous to others.

How do you check if a medicine has expired?

healthdirect explains that every medicine has an expiry date, which is the point when it will no longer work as well. Medicines shouldn’t be used after that date, because their chemicals can break down.

Look for the date on the packaging. It’s often under the pharmacy label, on a bottle lid or at the end of a tube. If you can’t find it, ask your pharmacist.

Some medicines have a shorter life once opened or prepared:

healthdirect singles out adrenaline autoinjectors, angina medicine (GTN) and insulin as ones to keep a close eye on. If you’ve taken an expired medicine, talk to your pharmacist or doctor.

How do you clear out a family member’s medicine cupboard?

Many of us end up sorting through a parent’s or grandparent’s medicines, perhaps after a hospital stay, a move into care or a change in their treatment. These steps help:

• Check regularly. The Pharmacy Guild suggests going through your medicine cabinet every 6 to 12 months.
• Don’t throw out anything they still take. If you’re unsure whether a medicine is current, check with their pharmacist or doctor first.
• Don’t keep strong pain relievers “just in case”. The TGA says this can lead to inappropriate use.
• Lock away what you keep. The TGA notes that children under five have the highest risk of accidental poisoning.
• Keep an up-to-date list. Write down what they still take, so their doctor and pharmacist have the full picture.
• Bag up the rest and bring it in. Leave everything in its original box or bottle.

How can our Pacific Fair pharmacy help?

Bring your unwanted medicines to our prescription counter. There’s no charge, no appointment is needed, and we’re open 7 days, including late on Thursdays. If the bag includes strong pain relievers, just let us know so we can handle them correctly.

If the clear-out was for someone who still takes several medicines, we can help with the next step too:

• a medication review with one of our pharmacists (free for Medicare card holders) to check what they take and why
• Webster packs, which sort each dose by day and time
• keeping their prescriptions and repeats on file in one place

When to see a pharmacist or GP

Talk to a pharmacist or GP if:

• you or someone you care for has taken an expired medicine and you’re worried
• you’ve found medicines in a family member’s home and aren’t sure whether they’re still meant to take them
• you’re not sure how to store a medicine or how long it lasts once opened

If someone has taken the wrong medicine or too much, call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26. For a medicine review or new symptoms, our in-store Help Medical GPs are one option.

Call 000 in an emergency. If someone is not breathing or is unresponsive after taking a medicine, call triple zero (000) straight away.

This article is general information only and isn’t a substitute for personal advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Always read the label and follow the directions for use. If symptoms persist or you’re worried, talk to your pharmacist or GP. In an emergency, call 000.