Again, the following information relates to procedures I observed about seven years ago.
Our procedures followed pretty close to what johnjacobs related in his post. Expired OTC items and many Rx items were returned to the wholesaler for some kind of credit or replacement. I think that procedure applied to outdated C-III, C-IV, and C-V medications as well, but I am unsure on that point. At NO time were expired items discarded with the trash. All pharmacy trash was disposed of in bags that were sealed for special pick up. However, I never heard of them being sent to DC.
When I was a new employee, the pharmacist mentioned a sad story. A number of years earlier he had discovered--at closing time--a ten or eleven year old boy who was inside and going through one of the building's dumpsters. A few doctor's and dentist's offices were located in this building, and they also used these dumpsters. The boy was frightened and explained that he was going to be paid by "some big guy" whom he'd never before met to bring him discarded pills, vials, and syringes. The "big guy" had described what these items looked like. He was waiting down the block, and he took off as soon as he saw that the boy had been discovered.
Yes, ML63, on infrequent occasions some nondispensed C-II medications became outdated. The pharmacist (owner of the store only) was required to complete a special DEA form specifying and accounting for every tablet or unit. Then these items were packaged and sent by courier to some location designated by the state for destruction. I don't know if they were burned, but that sounds very reasonable.
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Re: How do pharmacists dispose of expired meds?
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