Expired Medicine, Health Supplements & Cosmetics Disposal Guide
- 1Flushing expired prescription pills, vitamins, or cosmetics down sinks or toilets causes toxic chemical runoffs into rivers and antibiotic resistance.
- ✓Seoul provides dedicated drop boxes at community centers, health centers, pharmacies, and red street mailboxes.
Follow these steps
- 1
Pills & Capsules: Remove PTP packaging and boxes; collect pills into a sealed plastic bag.
- 2
Powdered Meds: Keep original pouches intact and place them into the medicine drop box.
- 3
Liquid Meds & Syrups: Combine into a single bottle and seal tightly (※ Do NOT place liquids in mailboxes; use dedicated collection boxes only).
- 4
Ointments & Eye Drops: Remove outer boxes; seal caps and dispose of original tubes in drop boxes.
- 5
Drop Locations: Deposit in collection boxes at community centers, health centers, pharmacies, or mark 'Expired Medicine' on plastic bags and place in red street mailboxes.
- 6
Cosmetics: Wipe contents into general trash using paper towels; wash packaging for plastic/glass recycling.
Frequently asked question
Do all local pharmacies accept expired medicine?
Yes, most pharmacies, community centers, and public health centers have collection boxes. You can search locations on Smart Seoul Map (map.seoul.go.kr).
Is there a fee for dropping medicine in red mailboxes?
It is completely free. Place pills or powder meds in a plastic bag, write 'Expired Medicine' on the bag, and drop it into any red mailbox.
Should expired nutritional supplements, fish oils, and probiotics be placed into pharmacy medicine disposal bins?
No. Dietary supplements (multivitamins, omega-3, probiotics) are legally categorized as food products rather than pharmaceuticals. Discard the capsules or tablets into regular municipal trash bags, and recycle the empty plastic or glass bottles separately.