Polish health agencies urge proper disposal of medicines and hygiene products to protect environment

Polish experts warn that expired or unused medicines should not be thrown in household waste or flushed down toilets because active substances can leach into soil and water, harming ecosystems and public health. The safest method is to return them to pharmacies that handle specialized disposal, removing personal data from packaging and keeping medical devices like syringes out of collection bins.

A separate study highlights that disposable diapers, sanitary pads and incontinence products generate 160‑200 million tonnes of waste each year worldwide. Researchers note that most of these items end up in landfills or incinerators, releasing plastics and pollutants. They call for reduced consumption, greater use of reusable alternatives, and development of recycling technologies capable of separating the mixed materials that make up these products.