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Authority for the Environment, Climate, Energy and Agriculture

Disposal of old medicines

Old medicines must be disposed of in the household rubbish bin. They must not be disposed of down the toilet.
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Detailed description

Old medicines (with the exception of cytostatics) are not hazardous waste according to the Waste Catalog Ordinance. Disposal with household waste, i.e. the black residual waste bin, is the permitted and correct way. 100 percent of the household waste from Hamburg is incinerated, with all active ingredients being completely destroyed. Also from the point of view of environmental protection, this thermal treatment of medicines is reasonable and safe.
In old stocks there are often packs without legible labeling or really dangerous waste such as clinical thermometers with mercury, benzine or insect repellent. Such things should not be put in the gray residual waste bin. Please take these to the nearest municipal cleaning recycling center or to the mobile collection point for problematic materials.

 

Information

Prerequisites

  • Never pour medication down the toilet or down the drain!
  • The sewage treatment plants cannot, or only slightly, break down active ingredients such as hormones or antibiotics.
  • "Hide" medicines in the garbage so that children do not confuse them with sweets.
  • Bring hazardous or unknown waste to the recycling center or to the mobile collection of problematic materials.

Documents required

No documents are required.

Please note

Important instructions

  • Separate waste! The cardboard box and the instruction leaflet in the blue paper bin, medicine residues in the gray residual waste bin.
  • Never pour medication down the toilet or down the sink!
  • The sewage treatment plants cannot or only slightly break down active substances such as hormones or antibiotics.
  • "Hide" medicines in the trash so that children do not mistake them for sweets.
  • Bring hazardous or unknown waste to the recycling center or to the mobile hazardous material collection facility.

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

If you have any questions about the procedure, please contact the authorities for the environment, climate, energy and agriculture or the Hamburg city cleaning department.

Processing time

When collecting the residual waste bin, please note the waste disposal calendar of the Hamburg city cleaning department and the opening hours of the recycling centers. When it comes to residual waste collection, there are occasionally postponements, for example due to public holidays.


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

Fees

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

Legal remedies

no

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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Last updated: 25.01.2025