Don't Flush Your Meds

Do you have unused or expired medicines in your home? 

Storing these medications in your home are a danger to your kids, families and the environment. That's why it's important to educate yourself on how to properly dispose unwanted and expired medicines. The City of Weatherford suggests a few ways to properly dispose of expired, unused and unwanted over-the-counter and prescription drugs. 

What to Do: 

• Take Back Meds Collection Event - The City of Weatherford Water Utilities and Police Department hosted its 17th collection event on Saturday, April 22, 2023, and a total of 383 lbs. was collected. To date, a grand total of 7,340 pounds of unused/expired meds were disposed at our events. Next event is scheduled for Fall 2023. 
• Pharmacy Take Back Meds Initiative - Certain local community pharmacies may collect your unused or expired medications and dispose of them properly for you. Find out which local pharmacy participates in this program. 
• Drop off Prescription Drugs - The Weatherford Police Department (located at 614 Fort Worth Hwy.) has a permanent collection box in its lobby available 24 hours, seven days a week, to collect all unwanted or expired medications (prescription or over-the-counter). 
• Trash - If you cannot participate in any of the programs listed above, follow these household disposal steps: Mix your drugs (DO not crush tablets or open capsules) with an undesirable substance, such as cat litter or used coffee grounds. Put the mixture into a disposable container with a lid or into a sealed bag and place it in the trash. 
• Do not FLUSH - Flushing or pouring medicines down the drain is a common way of disposal and was highly encouraged by the FDA. Yet studies have shown that disposing medicines down the drain and/or toilets cannot be removed through our wastewater treatment plants, enter into our rivers and lakes, and later into our drinking water source. So stop this common practice now and participate in the City's Take Back Meds event.