Until 2009, expired or no longer needed tablets, ointments, drops and liquids could be handed in for proper, non-hazardous disposal at the pharmacy, which then passed them on free of charge. In the meantime, there are only a few pharmacies where you can hand in old medicines free of charge or for a small fee.

The pharmacies collect the medicines in lockable containers, which are then later incinerated at the waste incineration plant so that no harmless substances can get into the groundwater. Since a large part of household waste in Germany is incinerated, the easiest way for consumers to dispose of their medicines is to simply throw their expired tablets or ointments into the household waste. For safety reasons, so that children or even adults cannot remove the medicinal waste from the rubbish again, they should be wrapped separately in newspaper or bags. Cannulas and old syringes may only be disposed of in normal household waste if they are packed in special containers to avoid the risk of infection.
An important exception are old mercury thermometers, which under no circumstances belong in normal household waste, but must be handed in as special waste at a collection point.

The important thing is: domestic waste yes, but never throw old medicines down the toilet or flush them down the sink, because they end up in the drinking water and pollute the water cycle.