Safely disposing of unwanted medication can help keep San Francisco Bay clean, people safe

One container at a time, Dr. Swati Patel does her 'spring cleaning,' of expired and unwanted medications, placing each one in a safe disposal bin at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital.

"The importance is two-fold," she said.

Patel said, by putting prescription pills, OTC meds, and more in the safe disposal bins rather than in the garbage or flushing them down the toilet, people are helping their community and the environment.

"The bin allows us to ensure that medications are disposed of correctly, both for the environment and for public safety," she said. "We ensure that unwanted, expired medications do not get into hands that we don't want, such as small children or even anybody that might find them on the streets or in the trash."