The BC Pharmacy Association and the provincial government want to remind you how to safely dispose of your prescription drugs.

Caren Heughan, a pharmacist in Victoria, says the start of the new year is a good time to clean out the medicine cabinet.

And she says many people are surprised to learn they shouldn't just toss their prescription drugs into the garbage.

"Medications are potent drugs, and we don't want them winding up in the landfill or dumped down the sink into the water supply. They really do need to be disposed of safely."

Heughan says used and expired prescription meds can be returned year-round to almost all local pharmacies in b-c for proper disposal.

The pharmacy association, province and Metro Vancouver launch this year's return campaign today.