The Potentially Infectious Medical Waste (PIMW) regulations were passed in 1993. These regulations were the result of a national scare from needles and other medical waste washing up on beaches in the late 1980s. Because of the diversity of populations and requirements, each state has its own individual medical waste regulations. The Bureau of Land is responsible for administering this PIMW program in Illinois. The PIMW regulations can be found in 35 Illinois Administrative Code: Subtitle M.

Is your medicine cabinet filled with expired drugs or medications you no longer use? How should you dispose of them?

Most drugs can be thrown in the household trash, but consumers should take certain precautions before tossing them out, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A few drugs should be flushed down the toilet. And a growing number of community-based “take-back” programs offer another safe disposal alternative.