Drugs - time for recycling? Drugs recycling is an idea of the program which could solve the problem of availability of expensive drugs. Previously sold, but unused medication, if brought back to special pharmacies for resale or donation, may provide a low-cost source of patent-protected medicines. Benefits of such a program go beyond simply providing affordable medication to the poor. The high cost of medicines (both to consumers and third parties) is a problem that seems to be getting worse rather than better. Although recycling medication may seem like a risky and bizarre idea, new technologies may make it reasonably safe - or at least safer than no medicine at all for whole groups of people.