12 replies to this topic

[j_pin]

Is there a way or a place to effectively recycle pill bottles? I have a lot of regular prescriptions and I feel it is so wasteful just throwing out the bottles.

[mariaandrea]

I know that they can't be recycled here, and we're one of the most recycling friendly cities around. I've never had many and have always found a way to reuse them - the few I have currently have beads in them.

My only suggestion is if you live in a city or area that has freecycle, to put them on there. People take a surprising amount of surprising stuff. The whole purpose of freecycle is to keep things out of landfills. Check it out and see if they have a group near you: http://www.freecycle.org/

You could possibly ask around among any crafters you know to see if anyone wants them. Reusing them is the only thing I know to do with them.

[E3 wise]

You know thats a great question I am going to call my pharmacy and see what they say and I will report back.

[E3 wise]

Here is some information I found on line.

Walgreens Safe Medication Disposal Program

Use tweezers to peel the labels from the medicine bottles, if you don't want individuals at the recycling center to know your name and other personal information. Place the labels in your home's trash can.

Place the medicine bottles in a plastic, paper or other type of bag or container.

Take the bag or container to your area Walgreens' pharmacy counter and ask to purchase one or more Safe Medication Disposal Program envelopes. The envelopes are $2.99 (as of March 2011), and the cost of postage is included in the price of the bag. The program accepts medicine bottles that are empty as well as bottles containing unwanted drugs.

Place your bottles in the envelope, seal the envelope closed, and drop it in a mailbox or take it to your area post office. You may need more than one envelope.

Whole Foods Medication Disposal Program

Complete steps 1 and 2 in the "Walgreens Safe Medication Disposal Program" section.

Open your computer's Internet browser. Click the "Preserve Gimme 5" link in the Resource section to locate a Whole Foods Market in your area that contains a Preserve Gimme 5 recycling center.

Take the bag or container of medicine bottles to the Whole Foods Market in your area.

Place the bottles in the Preserve Gimme 5 drop-off bin. The recycling program is free and accepts other plastic items. The recycling program only accepts empty medicine bottles

Read more: How to Recycle Medicine Bottles From Walgreens | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/...l#ixzz1ndzaFhZV

[zararina]

I do have few bottles because I take Vitamin C before and I use them as containers for cents, buttons and some other small stuff. And as far as I know,  junk shops here buy those plastic bottles or even glass bottles. Maybe you can try asking if there are buyers of such stuff in your area.

[jasserEnv]

In my area, the pharmacies take the bottles back. I have asked what they do with them at several of the stores but nobody seems to know. I don't think they are recycled but I know that their efforts are intended to ensure that drug residues do not contaminate water supplies. I suspect that they are being incinerated, but I am only guessing at this point. If I want to find out, I think I will have to contact the pharmacy headquarters but I am not sure I will like the answer.

[mariaandrea]

I rebel against having to pay to recycle, so I did a little research. Preserve is a company that recycles #5 plastics - like pill bottles and yogurt containers. They have bins in many Whole Foods stores called Gimme 5 where you can drop off your pill bottles. And here's something else nifty - they also take used Brita water pitcher filters. I hate throwing those away.

This page shows locations around the country with bins: http://www.preservep...5locations.html
This page tells how to recycle Brita filters: http://www.preservep...itafilters.html

Also, apparently many veterinary clinics and free medical clinics appreciate donations of empty pill bottles. They reuse them for filling prescriptions. So, call around in your area to see if vets will take your bottles, or if any free clinics need them. This is completely new info to me, and I have a vet across the street from me and a free clinic down the road, so I'll be asking if they use these things.

[katniss]

Check the base of the bottle for a chasing arrow triangle with a number 1,2 or 3 inside. These can be recycled . Normally they are made of HDPE which is No.2. Recycling rich.

Personally, I reuse them. I put my other pills/medicines in the old pill bottles. I just place a new label, so I won't get them all confused. And the next time i'm buying at the pharmacy, I request that they don't give me bottles anymore because I have a lot at home.

[bryce12]

I reuse the big bottles and recycle the smaller ones. For recycling, I highly recommend donating the bottles to Amvet. They collect the bottles and send them for use in poor countries. I think it's a win-win situation for everyone. Just make sure that you clean the bottles before donating them to Amvet.

[MakingCents]

Does anyone know, at the gimme 5 containers at whole foods do they recycle the lids or do they get tossed?  If they recycle the lids that's worth it to me, if not I'll just keep puttin the bottles in my recycle bin since our recycling accepts plastic 1-7  (except the lids)

[dconklin]

bryce12, on 04 March 2012 - 09:57 PM, said:

I reuse the big bottles and recycle the smaller ones. For recycling, I highly recommend donating the bottles to Amvet. They collect the bottles and send them for use in poor countries. I think it's a win-win situation for everyone. Just make sure that you clean the bottles before donating them to Amvet.

That is a great idea! We have a few pill bottles a month here.  I will look into that, it is nice to help out when others need it.  You are recycling and donating at the same time.  I do what I can to donate, this is the best option for me I think.

[Sarah C.]

E3 wise, on 27 February 2012 - 07:39 PM, said:

Here is some information I found on line.

Walgreens Safe Medication Disposal Program

Use tweezers to peel the labels from the medicine bottles, if you don't want individuals at the recycling center to know your name and other personal information. Place the labels in your home's trash can.

Place the medicine bottles in a plastic, paper or other type of bag or container.

Take the bag or container to your area Walgreens' pharmacy counter and ask to purchase one or more Safe Medication Disposal Program envelopes. The envelopes are $2.99 (as of March 2011), and the cost of postage is included in the price of the bag. The program accepts medicine bottles that are empty as well as bottles containing unwanted drugs.

Place your bottles in the envelope, seal the envelope closed, and drop it in a mailbox or take it to your area post office. You may need more than one envelope.

Whole Foods Medication Disposal Program

Complete steps 1 and 2 in the "Walgreens Safe Medication Disposal Program" section.

Open your computer's Internet browser. Click the "Preserve Gimme 5" link in the Resource section to locate a Whole Foods Market in your area that contains a Preserve Gimme 5 recycling center.

Take the bag or container of medicine bottles to the Whole Foods Market in your area.

Place the bottles in the Preserve Gimme 5 drop-off bin. The recycling program is free and accepts other plastic items. The recycling program only accepts empty medicine bottles

Read more: How to Recycle Medicine Bottles From Walgreens | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/...l#ixzz1ndzaFhZV

This is good to know! I also generate a lot of bottles from medications I take. We have a Whole Foods nearby!

[steph84]

mariaandrea, on 29 February 2012 - 09:16 AM, said:

I rebel against having to pay to recycle, so I did a little research. Preserve is a company that recycles #5 plastics - like pill bottles and yogurt containers. They have bins in many Whole Foods stores called Gimme 5 where you can drop off your pill bottles. And here's something else nifty - they also take used Brita water pitcher filters. I hate throwing those away.

This page shows locations around the country with bins: http://www.preservep...5locations.html
This page tells how to recycle Brita filters: http://www.preservep...itafilters.html

Also, apparently many veterinary clinics and free medical clinics appreciate donations of empty pill bottles. They reuse them for filling prescriptions. So, call around in your area to see if vets will take your bottles, or if any free clinics need them. This is completely new info to me, and I have a vet across the street from me and a free clinic down the road, so I'll be asking if they use these things.

Thanks so much for posting drop off locations. I also refuse to pay for recycling. I checked with my sanitation department in Los Angeles and they are taking #5 plastics. I also take a lot of my plastic and glass materials out to places that buy them by the pound. A little research goes a long way. It's better to find out before just dumping it.