what to do with empty pill bottles?

May 24, 2012 15:00

I've been going through a LOT of pill bottles over the last few years. It seems so wasteful to just throw them all out - especially the glass ones. Has anyone got any ideas for creative ways to re-purpose them?

recycle/reuse/reduce

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brookiki May 24 2012, 07:40:19 UTC
And if there isn't a Whole Foods nearby, you can also mail them to the same company. And you can mail the lids in here. I haven't sent any in yet, but I've got a boxful to send off.

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galingale June 1 2012, 21:06:03 UTC
Our town's recycling pickup recently added plastic pill bottles to the list of things they will accept.

And my 5yo loves putting things in them to make rattles.

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proudlyfallen May 24 2012, 05:18:02 UTC
My boy's been going through a lot of prescription bottles lately, and we generally save them for "oooh, that's a cool flower/herb/plant!" seed collecting. No one questions someone pulling out a prescription bottle.

If you "recycle" them to other people, make sure you pull off any identifying stickers. I have no way to verify this, but I've been told that in the USA, if someone else puts something illegal in a bottle with your name on it, you're responsible for it. Seems a little wonky to me... but I still pull off stickers of my own pill bottles, just in case.

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azdesertrose May 24 2012, 06:07:46 UTC
The largest homeless shelter in my area also runs a clinic for the medically indigent, and they take empty pill bottles and reuse them for prescriptions for their patients. You might see if there's a program like that in your area. I peel the identifying labels off my pill bottles before I donate them, just to be on the safe side.

If there isn't a program like the above in your area, some pharmacies will recycle your used pill bottles. Maybe ask your pharmacist if your pharmacy does that?

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bitsofbeauty May 24 2012, 06:27:43 UTC
If all else fails, put them up on craigslist (after peeling off any identifying labels) - people will jump on them for various crafting/re-purposing projects :)

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leeneh May 24 2012, 06:27:47 UTC
Where I am you are supposed to take both the empty bottles/packaging and left-over/expired medicines back to the pharmacy for safe disposal/recycling. You could ask if they have or know of such a program.

If that's not an option, the glass ones could otherwise probably be delivered where you deliver other coloured glass (after de-labelling and rinsing), and I should think the plastic ones could go in the polymers bin, if you got one of those.

Some medicine bottles are otherwise perfect for storing small stuff, like screws and bits and such.
Some can also be used for storing bagged herbs in - especially the brown glass ones, since they keep light out and have very tight lids.

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