Do NOT Dispose of Drugs in the Toilet or Sink

Publication: Flyer
Citation: German Environment Agency (Hrsg.) 2023: Do NOT dispose of drugs in the toilet or sink. Flyer. Online: umweltbundesamt.de

Do not dispose of unused pharmaceuticals in the toilet or sink, as this is how they end up in water, soil and groundwater. This leaflet explains in various languages how to dispose of old pharmaceuticals correctly and why this is important.

The leaflet contains a map showing a recommended disposal route for leftover pharmaceuticals for all districts and independent cities in Germany (as of 2023, based on information from arzneimittelentsorgung.de). In addition, the regional disposal routes can be ticked off a list on the back of the leaflet.

The leaflet can be ordered free of charge from the Federal Environment Agency's website and distributed, e.g. via pharmacies, doctors' surgeries, health advice centers, wastewater associations or waste disposal companies. There is a free space in the leaflet in which these multipliers can place their stamp as the sender.

Download Flyer

يُراعى عدم إلقاء الأدوية في المرحاض أو الحو (381.19 KB)
Arzneimittel NICHT in die Toilette oder Spüle (370.25 KB)
Do NOT dispose of drugs in the toilet or sink (361.02 KB)
NE PAS jeter des médicaments dans les toilettes ou l’évier (615.06 KB)
NIE wyrzucaj leków do toalety lub zlewu (572.46 KB)
НЕ выбрасывайте лекарства в унитаз или раковину (611.45 KB)
İlacı klozete veya lavaboya ATMAYIN (606.41 KB)

Dispose of old pharmaceuticals safely: protect water, soil and groundwater. Our multilingual leaflet explains how to do it properly – including disposal tips for all districts in Germany.

Pharmaceuticals and the Environment: New Teaching and Informational Materials Now Available!

22 January 2025

Publication:Document

Slides of a presentation set titled "Environmental Aspects of Human Pharmaceuticals in Medical Practice." Subtitle: "Basic slide set with free materials for medical education."

Pharmaceuticals in the environment are a growing problem. The UBA Internet portal "Human Medicinal Products and the Environment" offers freely available, scientifically proven teaching materials for medical and pharmaceutical lecturers. With the basic set of slides and the accompanying texts, the topic can be taught comprehensively and practically despite tight curricula.

Umweltaspekte von Humanarzneimitteln in der medizinischen und pharmazeutischen Praxis

Basisfoliensatz und Begleittexte mit freien Materialien

Year 2024

Publication:Fact Sheet

Cover page of the information package 'Pharmaceuticals and the Environment' for pharmacies, published by the German Environment Agency. The page includes a message of thanks to pharmacists for their contribution to reducing the entry of pharmaceuticals into the environment. Below, an introduction to the topic highlights the three main sections of the information package.

Pharmacies are an obvious place for conversation about pharmaceuticals and their effects on people and the environment, as well as the disposal of unused products. The information package for pharmacies provides pharmacy staff with in-depth background information for such discussions.

Infopaket für Apotheken – Arzneimittel und Umwelt

Year 2024

Publication:Document

Pharmacies can order this decorative wall calendar free of charge and give it as a promotional gift to their customers. The calendar is designed as a year-independent birthday calendar in DIN A4. Each month, attractive, large photo motifs and short texts focus on a different aspect of pharmaceuticals and the environment.

Geburtstagskalender: Arzneimittel und Umwelt

Year 2024

Publication:Postcard

Bei der Anwendung arzneimittelhaltiger Cremes und Gels kann die ins Abwasser gelangende Arzneistoffmenge dadurch reduziert werden, dass man sich nach dem Auftragen zunächst die Hände mit einem Papiertuch abwischt, das im Hausmüll entsorgt wird, und erst dann die Hände wäscht. Deshalb wurde zu diesem Thema eine deutschsprachige Postkarte in DIN A6 (10 x 15 cm) entwickelt, die der Kundschaft bei Abgabe von arzneimittelhaltigen Cremes und Gels in der Apotheke mitgegeben werden kann.

Der Umwelt zuliebe: Erst Wischen ... dann Waschen!

Year 2024

Publication:Postcard

Liquid pharmaceutical leftovers are more often disposed of incorrectly in waste water than solid ones. For this reason, a German-language postcard in DIN A6 (10 x 15 cm) has been developed on this topic, which can be given to customers when liquid medicines are handed in at the pharmacy.

Der Umwelt zuliebe: Hausmüll statt Glascontainer

Year 2024

Publication:Website

Screenshot of the German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt) website section on "Human pharmaceuticals and the environment." The page features navigation options for topics such as "For patients," "For doctors and pharmacists," "Scientific background," and "Downloads." Below, an infographic shows a crossed-out symbol over a sink and toilet, surrounded by pills, bottles, and environmental icons like fish. The text highlights the agency's mandate to educate about the environmental risks of pharmaceuticals.

The Federal Environment Agency's online platform "Human Pharmaceuticals and the Environment" provides information on the environmental impact of human pharmaceuticals and gives recommendations for environmentally conscious use and disposal. The aim is to minimize the entry of pharmaceutical residues into the environment and thus protect organisms, water, and soil.

Humanarzneimittel und Umwelt

Information platform

Year 2025

Publication:Poster

Poster titled "Correct disposal of leftover medicines." It presents three disposal options: domestic waste, pharmacies, and mobile hazardous waste units or recycling centers. The poster emphasizes not disposing of liquid or solid pharmaceuticals in toilets or sinks to protect water bodies and drinking water. Information is provided in multiple languages, and a QR code links to additional resources on arzneimittelentsorgung.de. Published by the German Environment Agency.

Many people think that old medicines should always be disposed of via pharmacies. Providing information about the applicable disposal methods, which vary from region to region, takes time in the pharmacy. The poster "Correct disposal of leftover medicines in: ...." is intended to ease the burden on staff by providing disposal information in writing on the sales floor. Other useful locations for the poster could include doctors' surgeries, hospitals, health advice centers, health insurance companies or waste disposal companies.

Correct Disposal of Leftover Medicines in: ...

Year 2024

Publication:Infographic

Healthcare professionals increasingly want to ensure the best medical care, but also consider the environmental impact. To provide pharmacists and healthcare professionals with quick and effective information, core elements for environmentally friendly prescribing and dispensing practices have been compiled in a checklist.

Environmental Checklist for Prescribing and Dispensing Medications

Year 2023

Languages: Russian

Polish

Arabic

German

French

English

Turkish
Credits: Media format: 2-fold Standard Flyer, both
Concept and Content: Melanie Kemper
Design: Beáta Welk Vargová
Funding: German Environment Agency (UBA), Germany
Published in: UBA online platform "Humanarzneimittel und Umwelt"
Published by: German Environment Agency (UBA), Germany
Year: 2023
Dimension: DIN A4
Project: Information and Teaching Materials for an Environmentally Conscious Use of Pharmaceuticals
Project ID: 50064
Keywords: Communication

Education

Health

Water

Human pharmaceuticals, medicines, drug, patient, environmental impact, environmental behavior, disposal of pharmaceuticals, environmentally friendly disposal of medicines, groundwater, environmental pollution, disposal of drugs, drug residues, precautionary principle

Germany

infographic, information, information material, communication, information product, visualization, leaflet, checklist, visualization, target group approach, visual design, data integration, infographic, multilingual, accessibility

Further Links

UBA online platform "Humanarzneimittel und Umwelt"