Pill bottles: those translucent orange soldiers that pile up all around us… in our drawers, cabinets, shelves… sometimes I wonder, if I had saved every empty pill bottle since I got sick could I build a small house by now?
One thing I have always hated the most about being sick, is how you often need more help than you can give back. I’d see those specials on TV and think: I want to build a Habitat for Humanity house or dig wells in Africa with Oprah! (this might be an insomnia induced thought, but the general sentiment still stands).
Okay, so I can’t dig a hole in the blazing African sun. There are still a lot of ways to help others. Like this, this is a project with an idea so simple, it’s brilliant. I’ve tried this myself so I can vouch for how easy it is to do and how good it feels to pass on something that is trash to you, but will be a treasure to others…
Imagine you’ve walked miles to a remote village hospital to receive any form of medical care you can find. You are given the medication you desperately needed and now you have to start the journey back home (often many miles). You don’t shake the pill bottle maraca as you walk because there is no pill bottle, (there was barely medicine). The pills bought in impoverished areas are often bought in huge quantities, in large jars, and doled out (if you’re lucky) wrapped in a tiny scrap of newspaper.
It doesn’t sound like a big deal at first. But the more I thought about it the more I realized: beyond the thought of just getting the medication home, what keeps the meds from swelling up from moisture by day 5? What keeps kids from getting into them? Or their getting lost? Those orange bottles that seem to accumulate so easily for us, can actually do more than you think for others…
How to Help:
Step 1:
When you finish your meds, save the bottle! This includes bottles you might receive over the counter like for Advil, Motrin, vitamin bottles, supplements – as long as the bottles aren’t too (Large bottles just cost too much to ship).
Step 2:
Follow the instructions for preparing the bottles
Step 3:
Throw the bottles in a box or manila envelope, when you have enough of them, mail it off!
The bottles are not wasted in anyway. Once the meds are finished, the families often use the bottles in 100 other ways (just think of how helpful it could be to have a container with a lid that seals). And if the bottle you send isn’t able to be used, it will be recycled.
The New Organization is called:
Matthew 25: Ministries
11060 Kenwood Road
Cincinnati, OH 45242
Note: I have nothing to do with this organization. They state they are an international humanitarian aid and disaster relief organization helping the poorest of the poor, locally, regionally, nationally and internationally regardless of race, creed or political persuasion across the US and worldwide. They were cited on many sites throughout my research.
Help Animals! You can also try contacting your local animal shelter, vet or animal organization, a lot of them are happy to receive donated pill bottles!
Ginger Ail 
From the Malawiproject.org website:
UPDATE – DECEMBER 20, 2015 – AFTER REACHING MORE THAN 1 MILLION PILL CONTAINERS THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED. The Malawi Project Board of Directors has turned its attention to (1) famine relief, (2) getting medical supplies, including 30 kidney dialysis machines, to Malawi as well as another shipment of over 500 wheelchairs and, (3) gaining the funds from contributors to build a new birthing center south of the capital city of Lilongwe. Thank you for your support of the pill container program and please continue with us on future projects.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Is there a similar program for other countries?
LikeLike
There is a link of the website to these other possibilities:
1. Samaritan’s Purse is collecting pill containers.
Contact the World Medical Missions Department at 828-262-1980 to confirm your shipment.
More information at: http://www.samaritanspurse.org/medical/world-medical-mission-donating-materials/
2. Another is m25m in Cincinnati, Ohio
Joodi Archer
Development and Media Director Matthew 25: Ministries
11060 Kenwood Road Cincinnati, Ohio 45242 joodi@m25m.org
3. Local animal shelters often accept empty pill containers. Contact the nearest facility.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh my…I collected hundreds of empty pill bottles over the years and ran out of room for them. I thought of taking them back to the pharmacies but was told that they couldn’t re-use them. So I threw them all out in the recycling bin just last week. If only I had known that others like this program were in need of them, I would’ve packaged them and sent them out. That’s just too bad. 😦 Well now I know! I also save toilet paper rolls and egg cartons. I keep thinking they could be of use someday, if not for me, for others. But it’s been years and they’re just now occupying space in our home. Have given out to schools for art and to farms. I used to collect pop cans, tabs and plastic yogurt containers too but it got too much and my husband put a stop to that. lol
LikeLike
Check your local food banks to see if they need egg cartons, grocery bags, etc.
LikeLike
The toilet paper rolls and egg cartons are usually welcome at elementary schools for art class
LikeLike
People with chickens would take the egg cartons to sell their eggs in
LikeLike
Do they provide shipping costs? I have a ton that I don’t know what to do with because I always say “I can use them for something”:)
LikeLike
I just called the Samaritan’s Purse and they do accept the pill bottles. Two requests: no labels, no sticky residue. Address to ship them: World Medical Mission, 801 Bamboo Road, Boone, NC 28607. (Also called a local animal hospital and they do not accept them.)
LikeLike
I’m afraid there are none whatsoever. Every group and organization online that advertised that they’d take them have now stopped. Such a shame, too. I have a big box of peeled off labeled bottles ready to ship and nowhere to send them. 😦
LikeLike
Try the Matthew:25 Ministries: http://www.evansburgumc.com/ministries/outreach/matthew-25-empty-pill-bottle-recycling/
LikeLike
Melanie, thanks for letting everyone know we have stopped the pill container program. As the famine worsens we must turn our attention to seeking funds for famine relief. We received over 2 1/2 million pill containers, making it the largest and most widespread supported program in our 23 years of working in Malawi.
LikeLike
Thanks for letting us know. I was getting ready to mail a big bag of bottles. Good this idea was so helpful!
LikeLike
Wonderful idea 🙂 I’m definatley in on this 🙂 anything we can do to make a difference 🙂 🙂 🙂 Thanks for the info Happy Days guys 🙂 love and peace Claire
LikeLike
Phenomenal way to help! I have several a month that I recycle. Thank you for bringing this to public attention. I shared with my FB friends and told them I would mail theirs if they wanted to drop them off.
LikeLike
In my town recycling program prescription bottles aren’t included in the items allowed anyway …..
LikeLike
A recent update in their page said this program has been discontinued
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on xenaprincesslymewarrior and commented:
This is a wonderful project! A way for those of us unable to physically do much for others because of our own illnesses. #payitforward
LikeLike
According to their website, this program ended in December.
http://www.malawiproject.org/
LikeLiked by 2 people
A Duehring,
You are correct. We passed over 2 1/2 million pill containers. You can imagine the cost of trying to get them to Malawi when each 40-foot trailer costs us $15,000.00. We had to stop them in order to focus on getting famine relief to the nation. Thanks for letting everyone know it has been stopped. Richard (Dick) Stephens co-Founder Malawi Project
LikeLike
I donate mine to the local spca, they use them to provide medicine for their animals
LikeLiked by 1 person
Do they have an address people could send them to?
LikeLike
I just went to their site and it says that this program has been discontinued. Bummer. I’m searching for other agencies that might need them.
LikeLike
Pati above says she donates hers to her spca – sounds like a great idea. Animal hospitals and Vets might also use them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks!
LikeLike
http://www.malawiproject.org/alternative-sites-for-empty-prescription-containers/
LikeLiked by 1 person
This program stopped Dec. 2015 after they collected over a million bottles. Check their website and Facebook page.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great idea. They will be recycled . They will be used over and over for one. And there are a million ways they will protect other stuff.
LikeLike
I have like 15 prescriptions thati take everyday since 2009 n if everyonei knew did this wet could find it all ourselves . I just threw another 4 out last week. It’s a great idea!
LikeLike
I believe it’s an amazing thing to do. Most people throw them away. I know because I did it until I saw this add a few months ago. I have been saving mine along with my dad’s and I will be shipping them out soon. Thank you for the information. Christine
LikeLike
I just read about this idea on Facebook. Since you posted it back in August 2015 has this country been overwhelmed with empty medicine bottles? I’d rather not contribute to a glut that I don’t know about. Also, putting plastic, empty medicine bottles in a flat envelope–I’m not being sarcastic, but the USPS isn’t known for treating mail with TLC. Some bottles must get cracked/broken in transit to Indianapolis. Are you still sending yours in a flat envelope?
LikeLike
SaVE YOUR CONDEMNATION OF THE USPS. I’VE BEEN GETTING PILLS BY MAIL FOR YEARS AND NEVER HAD A BOTTLE BROKEN. CAN’T IMAGINE WHY THEY CANNOT MAKE IT BACK THE SAME WAY. HOWEVER, READ ON AS THE INDIANAPOLIS PROJECT IS OUT OF THE BOTTLE BUSINESS.
LikeLike
I wanted to do this. I had been saving up bottles for literally months. Now that I have a huge bag I was going to send then. But the actual page about this states that as of Dec 20th they wont be accepting bottles anymore.
LikeLike
http://www.malawiproject.org/alternative-sites-for-empty-prescription-containers/
LikeLike
Are they still accepting these?
LikeLike
Please read previous comments…THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED!
LikeLike
I thought this was a great idea and saved bottles for a year, had a box that was about 10″ x 10″. It cost me a small fortune to send to the Malawi Project! Way too expensive to do it again..
LikeLike
I just went to the site and it said they could no longer accept them. Do you know of any other places that need them?
LikeLiked by 1 person
This might be helpful?http://www.malawiproject.org/alternative-sites-for-empty-prescription-containers/
LikeLike
Awesome! They can’t be recycled as they had meds in them, so this isI a great idea. I have about an hundred, though. Does any organization send them?
LikeLike
My stepmother probably has all the bottles you’ll need. But she won’t give them up. So I hope everybody joins in because this is a great idea
LikeLike
Most of my medicine come in lil dark blue bottles they take any I assume?
LikeLike
Above project ended Dec 2015- alternative address in link below
http://www.malawiproject.org/alternative-sites-for-empty-prescription-containers/
LikeLike
Would be nice if they acknowledged what you send them.
LikeLike
Is there still a need for these medicine bottles?
LikeLike
The Malawi Project no longer wants or needs empty medicine bottles. They recieved over a million.
Do some online research. A couple of places are mentioned that will take them but some have stopped. Check date of posting to be sure it’s cyrrent and up to date.
LikeLike
Excellent! I have three of my five with multiple medications due to Tuberous Sclerosis Complex related issues so we have a ton of empties and always felt these guilt pangs tossing them!!! Thanks.
LikeLike
Still viable. Do you still want them?
LikeLike
It won’t be recycled? This is the very definition of recycle/reuse. Just like grandma who wouldn’t think of buying Tupperware and saved and washed every whipped cream and cottage cheese container we ever used.
LikeLike
I feel like there is always something positive that I can learn on Facebook. And here is another example with this repurpose idea, which isimpressively helping others to survive, by allowing poor countries with so many desperate needs, who are just barely able to obtain, valuable medicine both Rx or Over the counter items, to be able store & transport back to their homes . Also creams, ointments, clean sterile bandaids, bandages, far too many uses to mention. I will pass this article along.
LikeLike
Rhythm rx
Music Medicine Project is taking pill bottles. You can find them on Facebook .
LikeLike
Just saw the program ended 12/15. There are other collection places, I stumbled on your article looking for another place to ship them.
LikeLike
Is this project still real because I have a box full of bottles.
LikeLike
They are no longer taking empty pill containers please update this post so people don’t keep trying to send them to the Malawi project.
LikeLike
I love this idea. My husband has a ton of old bottles. I have been looking for a way to recycle them and this is an awesome way to not only help others but to recycle them . I can’t wait to get them all cleaned up and boxed up and get them in the mail. Thank you very much for this link.
LikeLike
They are no longer accepting bottles….
LikeLike
Note: the Malawi project has stopped accepting prescription bottles but they do have info on other places to send them, if you go to their page
LikeLike
One other thing most people never think about is, in a lot of cities, there are free clinics or Social Welfare clinics that have in house pharmacies. Due to limited budgets they rely on donations of empty pill containers to dispense meds. Look it up online it is not exactly cheap to buy brand new med bottles in all the various sizes a clinic would need. Most of these clinics are non profit and prefer to spend their limited budgets on the actual medicines rather than containers for the meds. So please look into that in your area, you might be helping people you actually know. And if you can’t find a place to take them, send them to me and I will donate them to my local clinic along with my monthly donation. My address is 2314 Olive Street, Saint Joseph, MO 64507.
LikeLike
They are no longer accepting bottles.
LikeLike
Are you doing this again?
Bonnie Wilson
Bridgeport UMC
Mt.Pleasant PA
LikeLike
Hey, what is considered a “large” bottle? I have some that are probably not much taller than a high-count over the counter bottle. And I have others that are not as wide as the high-count over the counter bottles. I go through SO MANY of these, but I can’t control what size bottle the pharmacy gives me. I don’t want to send you a bunch that you can’t use.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Artful Evolution and commented:
Your empty prescription bottles get a new life in Malawi, where they are valued as containers for medication and other important items, keeping them safe from loss or damage.
LikeLike
THE MALAWI PROJECT STOPPED ACCEPTING PILL BOTTLES IN DECEMBER 2015.
Your bottles can still be used, though! See http://www.malawiproject.org/alternative-sites-for-empty-prescription-containers/ or check at a low-income clinic in your community – their associated pharmacy may rely on pill bottle donations to save costs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ginger Ail:
I think it would be very helpful if you could edit the original post to add a note at the top of it the the Malawi program has been discontinued, but there are other options at http://www.malawiproject.org/alternative-sites-for-empty-prescription-containers/.
Thanks!
LikeLike
(I mean the Malawi program no longer accepts pill bottles. They still have other projects.)
LikeLike
FYI- They are no longer accepting the bottles. I sent them a box full and receive a letter of thanks along with a request to stop sending them. They collected over 2 billion bottles. They want you to send a donation instead. Walgreens recycles bottles. You can take them there. Thank you Cindy
LikeLike
I save mine and use them to include fishing kits and sewing kits for my Operation Shoebox gifts.
LikeLike
Hey there. I have been saving medicine bottles for a while. I probably have about 60 or more. I remembered seeing a need for them and just went back to find my note that I saved in a Word document. I see that this program was stopped in 2015 after they reached over a million. I have followed this thread to see if there was a mention of anyone else needing them I saw your post. Of course it is now 9 years after the fact! But, if you are still out there and still donating and needing bottles to the free clinics, I have some to send. Yvetta hit me up at yamyers56 @gmail.com
LikeLike
I am with the American legion Auxiliary and would love to send our bottles. we don’t have to send anything with them like Money? Do the labels need removed? Please advise asap.
Bobbie Zahara-Minear
bobbieminear@gmail.com
ALA Cheula 92, Box 201
McCloud, California 96057
LikeLike
For everyone asking about donating the pill bottles, please contact your local veterinary hospitals, if they don’t want them ,then start checking with your local free clinics or social welfare clinics that have in house pharmacies. Those types of places usually welcome donations due to the fact that it is expensive to purchase the pill bottles new, and they prefer to spend their budget on making sure they have the meds to give to their patients. If you live in a small town that doesn’t have those types of facilities try the larger cities near you. Or if thats too much trouble, you can send them to me and I will donate them to my local Social Welfare Clinic as they always need the containers for both the Welfare Clinic and the Homeless Outreach Clinic. If inclined my address is:
Marc Salisbury
2314 Olive
St. Joseph, MO
64507-1509
LikeLike
Are they still doing this
LikeLike
Thanks for the information I wondering what I could do with the empty bottles.
LikeLike
We have a place called First Call for Help where newly homeless, homeless, those who can’t afford the items due to job loss can get laundry soap, shampoo/conditioner, dish soap and they put it in empty pill bottles. They also do clothes.
LikeLike