Disposal of Unwanted Medicines - Patient Returns

Written by AlisonFreemantle on Friday 16th June 2023

Community pharmacies must accept back unwanted medicines from patients, this is an essential service

The Disposal of Unwanted Medicines Service Specification was published in 2004. Since then all community pharmacies must act as a collection point for the public’s unwanted medicines. Returned medicines can be accepted from households and individuals. The term household is taken to include residential homes but not nursing homes.

Charity run hospices are included and pharmacies can accept medicines back from them.

Pharmacy staff should check with the person returning the medicines to ensure there are no items in the returns that cannot be safely disposed of, for example, needles, other sharps or chemicals etc. Pharmacies may want to use the following prompt card to aid the conversation:

If all returned waste bins are nearly full and you are not sure when your next collection is please contact Anenta to check if you are due at collection, arrange an urgent collection or request additional bins.

Contact Anenta:

Controlled Drugs

If you have schedule 2 controlled drugs waiting to be destroyed, please contact the CD Accountable Officer on:

For more information:

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