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UNEP Report 2026 on Unused Medicines
March 20 , 2026
12 hrs 0 min
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- The United Nations Environment Programme has released the “Safe Disposal of Unused Medicines” report, highlighting risks of improper disposal to the environment and public health.
- The report adopts a One Health approach integrating human, animal, and environmental health systems for safe medicine disposal.
- Improper disposal contributes to Antimicrobial Resistance, ecosystem toxicity, and endocrine disruption.
- Around 50% of medicines become waste globally, and unused medicines form about 3% of hazardous healthcare waste.
- Wastewater treatment plants are often ineffective in removing pharmaceutical pollutants completely.
- Suggested methods include high-temperature incineration, waste immobilization, engineered landfills, and co-processing.
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