100 Mile House Abbotsford Agassiz Albert Bay Aldergrove Armstrong Ashcroft Barriere Bowen Island Brentwood Bay Burnaby Burns Lake Campbell River Castlegar Chase Chemainus Chetwynd Chilliwack Clearbrook Clearwater Cloverdale Cobble Hill Colwood Comox Coquitlam Courtenay Cranbrook Creston Cumberland Dawson Creek Dease Lake Delta Duncan Enderby Fernie Fort Langley Fort Nelson Fort St. James Fort St. John Fraser Lake Fruitvale Gabriola Garibaldi Highlands Gibsons Gold River Golden Grand Forks Hope Houston Hudson Hope Invermere Kamloops Kaslo Kelowna Keremeos Kimberley Kitimat Ladner Ladysmith Lake Cowichan Langford Langley Lantzville Lilloeet Logan Lake Lumby Lytton Mackenzie Madeira Park Maple Ridge Masset Massett McBride Merritt Midway Mill Bay Mission Nakusp Nanaimo Nanoose Bay Nelson New Westminster North Delta North Vancouver Okanagan Falls Oliver Osooyos Osoyoos Parksville Peachland Pemberton Pender Island Penticton Pitt Meadows Port Alberni Port Coquitlam Port Hardy Port McNeil Port Moody Powell River Prince George Prince Rupert Princeton Qualicum Beach Quathiaski Cove Queen Charlotte City Quesnel Revelstoke Richmond Rossland Saanich Saanichton Salmo Salmon Arm Saltspring Island Sardis Scotch Creek Sechelt Shawnigan Lake Sicamous Sidney Smithers Sooke Sorrento Sparwood Squamish Summerland Surrey Terrace Tofino Trail Tsawwassen Tumbler Ridge Ucluelet Valemount Vancouver Vanderhoof Vedder Crossing Vernon Victoria West Vancouver Westbank Whistler White Rock Williams Lake Winfield

Program Objectives

Pharmaceuticals are a small but very important component of the waste stream affecting every household in British Columbia. Unused pharmaceuticals pose a significant health, safety and environmental hazard when improperly stored or disposed to the environment. The program's intentions are to divert expired and/or unused medications from landfills and sewers, as well as to ensure safe and effective collection.

Funding Mechanism

Medications Return Program is administered by the Post-Consumers Pharmaceutical Stewardship Association and funded by brand-owners selling medications in British Columbia This program provides the pharmaceutical and self-care health products industries with a collective means of adhering to the requirements of the British Columbia Recycling Regulation.

Recycling Hot Line

Established in 1990, the RCBC Recycling Hotline is a free, province-wide live information service for recycling, pollution prevention, waste avoidance, safe disposal options and regulations. Our live Hotline Information Officers answer over 120,000 inquiries each year, providing information to B.C. residents from our comprehensive database containing over 120 product and service categories and 4,000 listings of businesses, services, organizations and programs, covering a wide range of topics.

Our Hotline provides each caller with personalized information because our database cross-references materials, services and communities in every region of the province.

Give the RCBC Recycling Hotline a call, we're here Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm:

BC Toll-Free: 1-800-667-4321
Lower Mainland: 604-RECYCLE (604-732-9253)
Email: hotline@rcbc.bc.ca

Information for the Public

Check your medicine cabinet for unused or expired medicines and bring them in to your local pharmacist for environmentally responsible disposal. The disposal of the waste is conducted through incineration.

Click here to learn what items can be dropped off at participating pharmacies.

Information for the Pharmacist

Stericycle is providing services for supplies, waste pick up or question on the BC program. You can reach their facility at 604-552-1011 or 1-866-783-7422 with in B.C. or by fax at 1-866-783-7432.

Program Application Form

Pharmacies wishing to register with the B.C. Medications Return Program should print out and complete the registration form and fax it to Stericycle at 1-866-783-7432. If you have any questions on this procedure please contact Stericycle at 604-552-1011. Brand-owners dispensing medications in BC have made this program available to the public.

Information for the Brand-Owner

To learn more about how you can join the PCPSA and make a positive difference for our environment, click here.

Related Links

• Post-Consumer Residual Stewardship Program - 2010 Report
• Post-Consumer Residual Stewardship Program - 2009 Report
• Post-Consumer Residual Stewardship Program - 2008 Report
• Post-Consumer Residual Stewardship Program - 2007 Report
• Post-Consumer Residual Stewardship Program - 2006 Report
• Post-Consumer Residual Stewardship Program - 2005 Report
• Post-Consumer Residual Stewardship Program - 2004 Report
• Government of British Columbia

Medications Return Program Plan

• Stewardship Plan - Who, what, where, why and how
• Obligated Brand-Owners - Information for those selling medications in British Columbia
• Frequently Asked Questions