Medical waste disposal misconceptions abound in Canada

The Health Products Stewardship Association (HPSA)—a national nonprofit organization that operates return programs for unwanted medications and used medical sharps across British Columbia, Ontario, Manitoba and Prince Edward Island—is sharing results it calls “concerning” regarding consumer understanding of the proper disposal of medications.

Overall, results indicate safe disposal of medical products has decreased, but Canadians are not significantly held back by a lack of willingness or convenience, says the Ottawa, Ontario, nonprofit

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Results are based on an online study conducted by Canada-based Leger Marketing Inc. on behalf of HPSA from Feb. 10-26 with a sample of 1,941 adults aged 18 years and older from the provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Prince Edward Island. Using data from the Canadian Census, results were weighted according to age, gender, province and sharps incidence to ensure the sample is valid.

Ninety-eight percent of Canadian households have medications on hand, including prescriptions, over-the-counter medication, lotions and ointments and natural health products, but many do not know where or how to safely dispose of them. Thirty-three percent of respondents say they didn’t know their medicines should or could be safely collected.

Results also indicate that many Canadians aren’t aware of the harmful effects of incorrect disposal methods. Among those who reported disposing of medical waste incorrectly, 12 percent believe medical waste causes no harm in a landfill while 9 percent believe it is harmless to dispose of medical waste in a sink or toilet.

“We’re looking forward to seeing big improvements in Canadians taking action around medication disposal now that people can feel more comfortable placing attention on broader health-related issues,” HPSA Director General Terri Drover says. “As people clean out their medicine cabinets in spring cleaning, it’s a great time to visit one of the 6,036 participating pharmacies across Canada that provide easy access to safe disposal of expired or unwanted medications.”

Comparative research last conducted in 2021 provides an understanding of the “pandemic effect” on Canadians’ habits around safe disposal. Overall, fewer Canadians practice safe medication disposal now than pre-pandemic, mirroring similar downward trends seen in other important health measures, such as routine immunizations, dental care and certain types of cancer screenings. Now, with public safety measures like isolation requirements pulled back, HPSA is calling on Canadians to adopt safer habits around medical waste disposal.

To conduct a safe and easy drop-off, Canadians should empty all dry medication, such as pills and tablets, into a clear bag and keep all liquids, creams and inhalers in their original vials, removing personal identification. Then, they should visit the HPSA website and use the online drop-off location finder to locate a nearby facility to dispose of the medical waste.