Return of Unwanted Medicines (RUM)
What is RUM?
RUM is short for Return of Unwanted Medicines, a government initiative making it easy to collect and dispose of unwanted medicines in the community. Unwanted medicines refers to any medicine you have bought or been prescribed which you no longer need. Out-of-date medicines should also be returned for disposal.
Which pharmacies accept expired or unwanted medicines?
All MediADVICE pharmacies accept unwanted medicines.
What medicines can I return to the pharmacy?
You can dispose of the following types of medications in the RUM bin:
Prescription medications
Over-the-counter medicines
Herbal or complementary supplements
Gels, liquids, and topical creams
Pet medications are also accepted.
Please note, sharps (needles and syringes) cannot be put in RUM bins. Talk to your Pharmacist about the appropriate way to dispose of these items.
“Sharps” (needles and syringes)
Pet medicines
Methadone takeaway doses
Insulin pens
Epipens
Panadeine Forte
“Sharps” (needles and syringes)
No. Sharps should all be placed in an appropriate sharps container and returned to the correct disposal point – your Pharmacist may be able to assist you in locating this.
Pet medicines
Any medicines that you might have had for your pets can also be returned to the pharmacy to be disposed in the RUM bin.
Methadone takeaway doses
Yes. Liquid Pharmacotherapy doses (i.e. Methadone takeaway doses) can be poured into the RUM bin but an absorbent substrate (i.e. kitty litter or sawdust) must be first placed in the RUM bin to render the Schedule 8 poison unfit for human consumption.
The destruction of these doses must be recorded in the usual manner for any other Schedule 8 medicine. It remains the responsibility of all Pharmacists to ensure that they comply with their jurisdiction’s requirements for the disposal of Schedule 8 medicines.
Insulin pens
Insulin pens and vials can be placed in the RUM bin. All packaging must be removed before putting into the RUM bin. RUM has been advised by Diabetes Australia that empty insulin pens can be placed safely in the household’s general waste.
Epipens
Yes, but only if they are unused. Epipens, Clexane, Fluvax syringes that have not been used can be put into the RUM bin. Any unused injections can be placed into the RUM bin but once used they are sharps and need to be disposed of using a sharps bin.
Panadeine Forte
Any paracetamol and codeine combination medicines are safe to be put into the RUM bin.
Why is it necessary to collect unwanted medicines?
Evidence over many years confirms that medicines stored in the home can be the source of poisonings of children, and of confusion with aged patients. Accident and Emergency departments of major hospitals report alarming rates of poisonings of children due to household poisons (one in four admissions).
Aged patients are often confused by the variety of medicines previously prescribed and then superseded by subsequent medicines. Medicines, and chemicals in general, can contaminate the environment when discarded via landfill sites and sewerage facilities.
Why is safe disposal of medicines necessary?
Most people throw away medicines or flush them down the toilet. This can have a harmful impact on the environment including our waterways. Bringing them to your local MediADVICE for disposal is the best way to dispose of unwanted medicines.
Will my returned medicines be recycled or reused?
No. Returned medicines are not recycled or reused by the pharmacy at any time. This is prevented by the best practice procedures and in some jurisdictions by legislation.
How are medications disposed of?
Returned medicines are disposed of by high temperature incineration. The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has approved this process.
In partnership with Sanofi, and funded by the Commonwealth Government through the Department of Health, MediADVICE is able to offer this free service in its pharmacies.
Spring clean your medicine cupboard and safely dispose of unwanted or out-of-date medication you have at home. Simply bring your unwanted medicines to any MediADVICE pharmacy and give them to a team member.
Ask your local MediADVICE Pharmacist in-store to find out more.
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