Authority for the Environment, Climate, Energy and Agriculture

Dispose of medications

Dispose of medicines that you no longer need in the residual waste - household waste. Do not dispose of medicines in the toilet.

Detailed description

Do you have medication at home that you want to dispose of? With the exception of special cancer drugs (cytostatics), old medication is not considered hazardous waste. Dispose of it in the household waste - i.e. in the black residual waste bin.


In Hamburg, all household waste is burned in special facilities. This completely destroys all active pharmaceutical ingredients. This method is not only permitted, but also environmentally friendly and safe.

 

Information

Prerequisites

You want to dispose of medications that you no longer need.

Documents required

no

Please note

Some pharmacies take back medications as a service, but are not obliged to do so.



If you encounter other problematic things, such as

  • thermometer with mercury,
  • benzine or
  • insect powder

You must not dispose of them in the black waste bin!


Take them to the city's recycling center or use the mobile hazardous waste collection service in your area. This way you can ensure that these materials are disposed of safely.

Deadlines

If possible, dispose of your old medication in the residual waste bin the day before collection. If you provide the residual waste bin for collection yourself, please leave it at the curb by 6 a.m.

Procedure

  • Dispose of any medicines you no longer need in your black waste bin.
  • Do not pour any medications down the toilet or sink!
    • The sewage treatment plants are unable to break down active substances such as hormones or antibiotics, or only to a limited extent.
  • Dispose of the cardboard box and the package leaflet in the blue paper bin.
  • Make sure that children do not find the medicines in the trash and, for example, confuse them with sweets.
  • Take hazardous or unknown waste to the recycling center or to the mobile hazardous waste collection point.

Processing time

For the collection of your residual waste bin, please note the Hamburg City Cleaning Service's collection calendar and the opening times of the recycling centers.


The collection of residual waste is occasionally subject to postponement, for example due to public holidays.


You can find the emptying frequency on the Hamburg City Cleaning Service website.

Fees

There are no additional costs for the disposal of your old medication.

Legal remedies

No legal remedy is provided.

Legal basis

Circular Economy Act (KrWG)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/krwg/

Forms and downloads

Links on hamburg.de

Links on the Internet

Address and contact information

Authority for the Environment, Climate, Energy and Agriculture

Immission Control and Waste Management

We have a limited number of customer parking spaces. To reserve a parking space, please contact our receptionist by e-mail at zugang@bsw.hamburg.de or by telephone on +49 40 428 40 - 50 50. Our working hours are: Monday to Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m , Friday from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

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Keywords: Disposal of medicines - private households Disposal of Medicinal Products - Private Household Disposal of pills Disposal of tablets Dispose of old medicines dispose of expired medications

Last updated: 10.10.2026