give away medicines, equipment etc for free

vikki_louise

Hello, I know im not the only one who over time has acumilated boxes of unused medication, equipment etc. I always feel its such a huge waste to just throw them away and for years have wanted to find somewhere to donate them for them to be used elsewhere in the world.

today i found this charity http://www.thejacobswell.org/ which accepts donations from patients. I've emailed to ask them how to go about donating,

Also found http://www.cartyorkshire.co.uk/ which accepts medical stuff, clothes, household things etc.

Both seem to be in Yorkshire (I'm in surrey) but hoping to still be able to donate and thought I would post of a place which is free to dispose of stuff and help others at the same time!

Queenriderbrekke

Also, if you don't find this practical, any local chemist will take old medicine that is no longer required and dispose of it safely for you!

Nile

vikki_louise wrote: »

Hello, I know im not the only one who over time has acumilated boxes of unused medication, equipment etc. I always feel its such a huge waste to just throw them away and for years have wanted to find somewhere to donate them for them to be used elsewhere in the world.

today i found this charity http://www.thejacobswell.org/ which accepts donations from patients. I've emailed to ask them how to go about donating,

Also found http://www.cartyorkshire.co.uk/ which accepts medical stuff, clothes, household things etc.

Both seem to be in Yorkshire (I'm in surrey) but hoping to still be able to donate and thought I would post of a place which is free to dispose of stuff and help others at the same time!

From what little I know about the Jacob's Well Appeal charity, it was set up by two retired GP's. This charity raises funds by holding regular car boot sales at their premises in Beverley, East Yorkshire.

I'm sure that they'll be glad of your donations.;)

Nile

nickyt

Hi,

I would be interested in this if it gets used and not thrown away. I think it's a waste to just dispose of it when there is nothing wrong with it and could be use. I have some here that I could give as until I was on the right medication the doctor tried different medication. The chemist say they just dispose of it as it been given out. I can understand this to some medication but some are packed well enough that it's not touched.

Pip26

Hi - thanks, always good to find a post that is for giving things to others not just sending off for freebies for ourselves.

By the time I normally turn out medicines etc., they are out of date and so just throw them away - did not know these places existed so thanks! - will now donate rather than just leaving and leaving, then throwing away!!!!!

The_Grandmaster

nickyt wrote: »

Hi,

I would be interested in this if it gets used and not thrown away. I think it's a waste to just dispose of it when there is nothing wrong with it and could be use. I have some here that I could give as until I was on the right medication the doctor tried different medication. The chemist say they just dispose of it as it been given out. I can understand this to some medication but some are packed well enough that it's not touched.

Sorry to sound negative but I think the medication gets disposed of for reasons of safety: people may tamper with the medication such as adding poisonous substances with a fine needle - if this medication is then taken that would cause problems. You may claim such a thing is farfetched however such cases have been reported with vending machines where a person believes the person before has forgotten to take his can of drink...

The_Grandmaster

Pip26 wrote: »

Hi - thanks, always good to find a post that is for giving things to others not just sending off for freebies for ourselves.

By the time I normally turn out medicines etc., they are out of date and so just throw them away - did not know these places existed so thanks! - will now donate rather than just leaving and leaving, then throwing away!!!!!

Also I would have thought out of date medication is unusable.
I may have a bottle of milk from a few weeks ago but even if it is milk, I still can't drink it... Same with the medicine? Surely it would be useless or even harmful to take an out of date medication?

Anyway these are just my thoughts and would be intrested to hear what people say to this.

The_Grandmaster

By the way I'm not trying to be negative about the charitable activities and on the contrary think it's a worthy cause: however I was just pointing out my thoughts.

From a look at the website they do not use out of date medication but apparently have thorough checks with the medication.

somewhere_sunlight

Queenriderbrekke wrote: »

Also, if you don't find this practical, any local chemist will take old medicine that is no longer required and dispose of it safely for you!

I agree . . . .

Pip26

The_Grandmaster wrote: »

Also I would have thought out of date medication is unusable.
I may have a bottle of milk from a few weeks ago but even if it is milk, I still can't drink it... Same with the medicine? Surely it would be useless or even harmful to take an out of date medication?

Anyway these are just my thoughts and would be intrested to hear what people say to this.

Don't think I worded mine very well, meant that I would change habit and instead of leaving and leaving them until they were out of date, would donate before they expired in case they could be used.

Agree that out of date things should not be used.

Presumably the powers that be at these centres/charities know what to keep/use safely and what to dispose of and must certainly check for tampering. I don't expect they would use anything that had been opened/damaged or interferred with in any way.

Katiehound

I know this is slightly different but I know of a charity (K.A.T. in Nepal- look at their website) which takes out of date animal drugs- up to 3 years old- for use with the street dogs of Katmandu. They will even refund the postage if you send them to the co ordinator in UK. So if you know of anyone who has old vet drugs in the cupboard- things like flea treatments etc or has just lost a faithful doggy friend who was on expensive medication please don't bin or give to the vet for disposal- contact Juliette.

We don't like to waste anything!!
Katiehound :T