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In Scotland, approximately £12-18 million worth of prescription medication is wasted each year.
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How can you effectively manage your medications?
Reasons for the waste have included repeat prescribing of unwanted medicines, medicines being changed, side effects to a medicine, over-ordering by patients, the death of a loved one, and waste in care homes. The best way to reduce waste is to only order what you need and not to stock excess medicines at home in case they are needed.
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Medication waste attributes to 365 tonnes of waste incinerated in Scotland every year. This disposal alone costs £0.25 million a year with a CO2 equivalence of 28 car journeys around the world a year (700,000 miles).
In the NHS Western Isles, unwanted and expired medicines can be returned to any community pharmacy or GP Practice, where they will be safely disposed of through incineration.
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Stay Well
Stockpiling medicines worsens national drug shortages.
All medicines have an expiry date. Using expired medicines means they may not work as intended, meaning your care might be compromised.
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Stay Safe
Medicines are only prescribed for you and for safety’s sake these should not be shared with anyone else.
Stockpiles of medicines kept at home can be dangerous for children and pets. You should also ensure that medications are not in a location where others can misuse or have access to them.
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Stay Green
Only ordering what you need means that you are helping the environment because once medicines have left the pharmacy, they cannot be recycled or used by anyone else.
When you dispose of medicines properly, by handing them in to your Pharmacy or GP Practice, you are helping to make sure that waste medicines do not enter the waste stream, which can contaminate the environment and potentially harm wildlife.
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Your Medicines and hospitals
Always keep a list of your medicines, the doses, and how you take them in your wallet or purse, and if you know you’re going into hospital remember to take all your medicines with you.
These actions mean that your healthcare professionals within the hospital have a complete record of what you’re taking, and may adjust, or dispense more of, your medication to speed up your care.
Prior to your discharge you will be provided with the correct medication to take home with you.
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Reduce waste with a conversation
Let your Pharmacy team or GP Practice know if you’ve stopped taking any of your medicines, or if they’re no longer right for you.
This is not a problem, and in fact, means your healthcare professional will be able to improve your healthcare.
Unused or out-of-date medicines can be returned to your Pharmacy or GP Surgery for safe disposal.
If you have any questions about your medicines, or a prescription, do not hesitate to ask your Pharmacist, GP or Practice Nurse.
If you are not sure what your medicines are for, or you are worried about using them, please talk to your GP Practice, or Community Pharmacist. Alternatively contact your GP Practice to make an appointment with the Primary Care Pharmacy team.
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- LAST REVIEWED ON: June 11, 2025