The Medication Adherence Research Centre (MARC) at the Medical University of Lodz recently led the DISPOSAL study — the first initiative of its kind to comprehensively map national policies, real-world practices, and public awareness related to the management of unused and expired household medications across Europe. The findings reveal critical gaps that contribute to environmental damage, safety risks, and unnecessary healthcare spending.

Preliminary results of the study were presented on June 26, 2025, during the international symposium “Minimizing the Ecological and Economic Burden of Medication Waste in Europe,” co-organised by the Medical University of Lodz and the NCBR Office in Brussels, under the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU.

A key outcome of the event was the signing of the Brussels Declaration on the Responsible Disposal of Unused and Expired Medications in Europe, a joint call by experts from multiple European countries for immediate, coordinated EU-wide action.

The Declaration outlines three priority measures:

• Coordinated public awareness campaigns to inform citizens about safe medication disposal

• Standardized, clear disposal instructions on medicine packaging

• National digital platforms to provide accessible information on local return points and disposal procedures

Together, the DISPOSAL study and the Brussels Declaration lay the foundation for evidence-based, practical, and scalable solutions to reduce medication waste and its impact across Europe.

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