How to Dispose of Transdermal Nicotine Patches

Hospitals for a Healthy Environment's "Managing Pharmaceutical Waste: A 10-Step Blueprint for Health Care Facilities In the United States" says used nicotine patches still might contain up to 95 percent of the drug. According to Marci Lee and Jerry Philips of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), improper disposal of transdermal nicotine patches can result in accidental poisoning. But there are ways to dispose of your nicotine patches safely.

Instructions

• 1

  Cut the nicotine patch into small pieces, according the the FDA's safety page, or fold the patch together, says the University of Maryland's Medical Center website.

• 2

  Secure your used nicotine patches in the container provided by the manufacturer, according to Lee and Philips. If your nicotine patch manufacturer does not provide a container for disposal, find a secure container with a lid to store your patches in for disposal.

• 3

  Place the container with the patches in your trashcan in a location safe from children or pets, warns the University of Maryland Medical Center website.