Same answer in every state and territory
How to dispose of old medicines in Australia
Anywhere in Australia, unwanted or expired medicines go back to a community pharmacy for free through the Return Unwanted Medicines program. Every pharmacy takes part, there is no appointment and no charge. Leave medicines in their packaging and hand over the lot. Never flush or bin them: flushed medicines reach waterways and binned ones are a poisoning risk.
Sources Return Unwanted Medicines
What do I do with medicines & sharps?
- Any pharmacy takes them back The Return Unwanted Medicines program is federally funded and free at community pharmacies nationwide. No appointment, no questions, no charge.
- Leave them in the packaging Don't decant or separate. Blister packs, bottles, tubes, creams — hand the lot over as-is.
- Sharps need a proper container Needles and lancets go in an approved sharps container, never a drink bottle. Your pharmacy or council can tell you where to get one and where to return it.
The RUM program is national — every community pharmacy in Australia takes part, in every state and territory.
Can I take old medicines to any pharmacy?
Yes. The Return Unwanted Medicines (RUM) program is federally funded and runs through every community pharmacy in Australia, in every state and territory. Hand them over the counter. No appointment, no questions, no charge.
Do I need to take medicines out of the packaging?
No. Leave blister packs, bottles, tubes and creams as they are and hand over the lot. The pharmacy bags them for high-temperature incineration. Peeling off the label is optional if you want your name off it.
How do I dispose of needles and sharps?
Needles, lancets and pen tips go in an approved sharps container, never a drink bottle or the bin. Pharmacies and councils can tell you where to get a container and where to return it when it is full. Return programs differ by state, so ask locally.
Can I just flush medicines or put them in the bin?
No. Flushed medicines pass through sewage treatment into rivers and the ocean. Medicines in household rubbish are a poisoning risk to children, pets and anyone going through a bin. The pharmacy route is free and takes two minutes.
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This answer is the same in every state and territory, so there is one page for it. The answers that change at the state border are listed at where does it go.