Have you ever found an expired container of vitamins or supplements in your medicine cabinet and thought "What am I going to do with this? Let me just flush them down the toilet"? If so, you are not alone. Many households across the United States dispose of vitamins and supplements down toilets and drains. In fact, thousands of pharmaceutical and personal care products are improperly discarded each year.

Throwing vitamins and supplements in the trash or flushing them may seem like the easiest option. However, those actions create real environmental and public health problems. Studies show that more than half of people who use medications throw them in the trash, about one-third flush them down the toilet, and only a small fraction return unused or expired medication to pharmacies. This means most people contribute to improper disposal and highlights the need for safer, more organized options.

Why improper disposal is harmful

• Contaminates water and soil sources
  • Pollutes water and soil with chemicals and compounds from supplements and medications.
  • Excess nutrients from some compounds can disrupt nutrient and pH balance in water sources.
  • Chemicals can alter soil composition, reduce fertility, and harm beneficial microorganisms.
• Harms wildlife
  • Aquatic life can suffer reproductive and growth problems from pharmaceutical chemicals.
  • Toxicity can poison wildlife, causing illness, death, and population declines.
  • Behavioral changes may occur that affect feeding, migration, and inter-species interactions.
• Creates human health risks
  • Certain chemicals can bioaccumulate in the food chain and may affect human fertility and increase risk of some cancers.
  • Improper disposal contributes to antibiotic-resistant bacteria, a public health threat linked to millions of illnesses and thousands of deaths each year.

How to maintain vitamins and supplements safely

• Check expiration dates regularly.
• Never flush vitamins or supplements down the toilet or pour them down the drain.
• Look for medication take-back locations. Pharmacies or local health providers may accept expired or unused items.

How to dispose of vitamins and supplements at home

If a take-back program is not available, follow these steps for safer home disposal:

1. Remove the vitamins and supplements from their original containers.
2. Mix the items with an unappealing substance such as used coffee grounds or dirt to discourage accidental consumption.
3. Place the mixture in a leak-proof container and seal it with duct tape.
4. Remove or scratch out any labels containing personal information from the original container, then dispose of the sealed container with your household trash.

Benefits of proper disposal

• Reduces chemical exposure to wildlife and ecosystems.
• Prevents chemicals from leaching into soil and water sources.
• Protects people by reducing contamination of drinking water supplies.

How Love.com helps

Love.com promotes vitamins and supplements labeled non-toxic, community-focused, and sustainable, which shows a commitment to both environmental and human health. These products are formulated to minimize harm to ecosystems and to people. By featuring sustainable products, Love.com supports safer choices for a healthier planet.

Learn more

For more information on safe disposal of vitamins and supplements, visit the FDA guidance and watch the FDA video linked below.

Watch here