Every year, billions of orange prescription bottles are used once and then discarded, creating a huge amount of plastic waste. These containers, typically made of durable #5 polypropylene plastic, don’t break down easily in landfills. So, what should you do with old prescription bottles piling up in your medicine cabinet?
Instead of tossing them, you have plenty of eco-friendly and helpful options. From clever reuse ideas around the house to proper recycling and donation programs, you can give these little bottles a second life. This guide will walk you through creative and responsible ways to handle your empty pill bottles, protecting your privacy and the planet at the same time.
Before you think about recycling, consider upcycling. A little creativity can turn an empty pill bottle into a handy household tool. Always remember to wash the bottles thoroughly and remove the labels to protect your personal information before reusing them.
Workbench Containers for Small Parts: Use pill bottles to sort and store small items in your workshop, like nails, screws, nuts, and bolts. You can line them up on a shelf or even glue the caps to the underside of a shelf for a convenient, space-saving storage system.
Hair Accessory Storage: Finally, a perfect home for all those runaway bobby pins and hair ties. An empty bottle can hold dozens of pins, keeping them organized in your drawer or travel bag.
Cotton Swab Container: Standard cotton swabs fit perfectly inside many prescription bottles, keeping them clean, dry, and ready for travel. No more crushed cardboard boxes or dusty swabs.
Earbud Container: Keep your wired earbuds from becoming a tangled mess or protect your wireless buds from getting lost or damaged at the bottom of your bag. The sturdy plastic shell provides great protection.
Seed Storage: For gardeners, pill bottles are ideal for storing seeds. They are airtight and moisture-proof, which protects seeds from rot and pests, keeping them viable for the next planting season.
Travel Jewelry Holder: Prevent your necklaces from tangling and keep small earrings and rings from getting lost during your travels. A pill bottle is a discreet and protective case for your valuables.
Mini First Aid Kit: Create a tiny, portable first aid kit for your car, backpack, or purse. Fill a bottle with essentials like bandages, antiseptic wipes, and a few pain-reliever tablets for minor emergencies.
Survival Kit: For the truly prepared, a pill bottle can hold a micro survival kit with items like waterproof matches, a small compass, fishing line, and hooks. You can even wrap duct tape around the outside for extra utility.
Cash Stash Holder: A pill bottle makes a discreet container for emergency cash or coins. It’s perfect for your car’s glove compartment or a travel bag, as it keeps money dry and doesn’t attract attention like a wallet.
Hide a Key Container: Need a place to hide a spare key? Put it in a pill bottle to protect it from the elements. For extra camouflage, you can glue a rock or pinecone to the top of the cap and bury it in your garden.
Travel Toiletry Bottle: A clean pill bottle can hold small amounts of shampoo, conditioner, or lotion. Most are under the 3.4-ounce TSA limit for carry-on liquids, making them perfect for short trips.
Purse Trash Can: Keep your bag tidy by using a pill bottle as a miniature trash can for small items like gum wrappers, receipts, or used tissues until you can find a proper bin.
Musical Shaker Instrument: Fill a bottle with rice, dried beans, or beads to create a simple DIY musical shaker. It’s a fun craft for kids and a great way to make some noise.
Chip Bag Clip: Believe it or not, a pill bottle can seal a bag of chips. Fold the top of the bag, push it through the bottle’s opening, and snap the cap on to create a surprisingly effective airtight seal.
If you have more bottles than you can reuse, recycling is the next best option. However, you can’t just toss them in the bin. Proper preparation is key.
Before recycling, you must prepare your prescription bottles. This protects your privacy and ensures the plastic can actually be processed.
Remove All Medication: Make sure the bottles are completely empty. The FDA recommends disposing of leftover medications by mixing them with an undesirable substance like coffee grounds or cat litter in a sealed bag before throwing them in the trash. Never recycle a bottle with medicine still inside.
Clean and Dry the Bottle: Rinse the bottle and cap with water to remove any pill residue and let them dry completely. Clean materials are crucial for the recycling process.
Remove the Label and Personal Info: To protect your privacy, the FDA advises removing the label or completely obscuring your personal information with a permanent marker. Soaking the bottle in warm, soapy water can help loosen the label’s adhesive.
Not all recycling programs are the same, and pill bottles can be tricky.
Identify the Plastic Type: Most prescription bottles are made of #5 plastic (polypropylene), which you can confirm by looking for the number 5 inside the recycling symbol on the bottom of the bottle.
Check Local Curbside Recycling Acceptance: This is the most important step. Many municipal recycling programs do not accept #5 plastics. Even if they do, the small size of pill bottles can cause them to fall through sorting machinery and end up in a landfill. Always check your local waste management provider’s website for their specific guidelines.
Follow Bottle Cap Guidelines: Programs have different rules for caps. Some want caps on, while others want them off. If you’re donating bottles for reuse, the receiving organization will almost always want the cap included. When in doubt, check the program’s guidelines.
If your curbside service doesn’t accept pill bottles, look for alternatives.
Specialty Recycling Programs for #5 Plastic: Some communities have special drop-off programs for hard-to-recycle plastics like #5 polypropylene. Companies like Preserve have previously run programs that turn #5 plastics into new consumer goods.
Mail-In Recycling Programs: Organizations like Matthew 25: Ministries accept clean, label-free pill bottles by mail. They send the bottles to clinics in developing countries to help with medicine distribution. You typically have to cover the cost of postage yourself.
While reusing and recycling empty bottles is great, there’s an even more impactful answer to the question of what to do with old prescription bottles and their contents: donation.
Many animal shelters and veterinary clinics accept donations of clean, empty pill bottles. They reuse them to dispense medications for the animals in their care, which helps them save money on supplies. Call your local shelter to see if they have a similar program.
This is where you can make the biggest difference. Hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of unexpired medication is destroyed each year, while many people in the U.S. can’t afford their prescriptions.
Instead of letting good medicine go to waste, you can donate it — including certain unopened over-the-counter medications. Organizations like SIRUM have created a safe, legal, and easy way for individuals and health facilities to donate unopened, unexpired medications. These donated medicines are then redistributed to charitable pharmacies and clinics serving patients in need. Donating medicine not only keeps it out of landfills but can also be a lifeline for someone who might otherwise go without.
If you have surplus, sealed medication, don’t throw it away. See if it can help someone else. Learn how you can donate unused medicine safely and legally through SIRUM.
1. Can I just throw old prescription bottles in my recycling bin?
Not always. You must first check if your local curbside program accepts #5 plastic. Even if they do, the small size of the bottles can cause them to be filtered out at sorting facilities. It’s best to confirm with your local provider or find a specialty recycling program.
2. How do I get the sticky label off a pill bottle?
Start by peeling off as much as you can. For the remaining sticky residue, you can soak the bottle in warm, soapy water or apply a small amount of cooking oil or adhesive remover, then wipe it clean and wash the bottle.
3. Is it safe to reuse old pill bottles for food items, like spices or snacks?
Yes, as long as you have thoroughly washed and dried the bottle. The #5 polypropylene plastic they are made from is generally considered food safe and is used for containers like yogurt cups and syrup bottles.
4. What is the best thing to do with old prescription bottles?
While there are many great reuse and recycling options, donating unused, unexpired medication through a certified program like SIRUM offers the greatest positive impact. It prevents waste and directly helps people in your community access life-saving medicine they couldn’t otherwise afford.
5. Where can I donate my empty, clean pill bottles?
Check with your local animal shelters or veterinary clinics, as many of them reuse bottles for pet medications. Additionally, some humanitarian organizations like Matthew 25: Ministries accept them via mail for use in medical shipments overseas.
6. Is it legal to donate leftover prescription medicine?
Yes, it is legal in over 40 states thanks to Good Samaritan Drug Donation Laws. Organizations like SIRUM operate as a safe and legal channel, connecting donors with licensed pharmacies to ensure medications are handled properly and reach patients who need them. Donating through a verified program is the only safe and legal way to do so.
