It’s always good to be prepared, and if you take this to heart, you might find yourself the owner of various types of first aid and emergency kits. But when those kits wear out, expire, or are replaced with better models, you’ve got to dispose of the old ones. However, various components in these kits, including flares, medical waste, and prescription drugs, can complicate attempts to dispose of first aid and emergency kits at home. Learn your options, especially for disposal in Massachusetts.
The Dangers of Flares and Other Pyrotechnics
Flares in all forms, including roadside, boat, and flare gun flares, are categorized as explosives, so care needs to be taken when it comes to handling, storage, and disposal. If your emergency kit contains flares, you’ll need to dispose of them separately in one of three ways:
- Contact Your Fire Department: Your easiest solution is to contact your local fire department. They should have local options for disposal, including which agency might need them.
- Different Agencies for Different Flares: Road flares may be used by the local Massachusetts Highway Departments. Boat flares may be useful for the Coast Guard for demos. Also, check with your municipal police department.
- Home Destruction and Disposal: Similar to fireworks, your flares may be able to be disposed of at home. Check your packaging and contact the manufacturer for your options. See our blog, Dealing with Explosive Hazardous Waste, Including Firework Disposal, for more info.
The Medical Waste in Used First Aid Kits
If you have used your first aid kits, you may have medical waste that should not be disposed of at home. Specifically, this includes used sharps (which cannot be thrown away) and any waste that contains human blood, as these pose health and safety risks. For more information, including sharps disposal drop-offs in your area and how to deal with other medical waste, see the MA Department of Public Health’s Medical Waste – Community Sanitation page.
The Right Way for Prescription Drug Disposal
Many first aid and emergency kits recommend stocking them with any prescription drugs you may need, but if you’re looking to dispose of those prescription drugs later (including if they have expired or you no longer need them), you shouldn’t throw them in the trash. As per the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP):
Expired or unused medicine should not be flushed, poured down the drain, or thrown in the trash. Take unwanted prescription drugs to a permanent waste medication kiosk near you. These kiosks are usually located at your local Police Station, Hospital, Clinic, or Fire Station.
See their Safely Dispose of Prescription Drugs page for additional information.
It’s important to note that most hazardous waste facilities won’t accept these or other similar products (such as ammunition or culture dishes), including NEDT Collection Centers, for your safety and that of our workers. Learn about your options with our Fact Sheets and the MassDEP website. Learn more about what do we accept and plan your trip to NEDT’s Household Hazardous Products Collection Centers today or contact us about our pick-up service.
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