People are familiar with many of the everyday ways to live an eco-conscious life, like recycling paper, drinking out of reusable containers and taking public transportation. But other aspects of environmental responsibility can be a bit trickier.

One area where many lack knowledge is the question of unused medications from over-the-counter painkillers to prescription ointments and creams to vitamins and supplements.

While more state and local governments are holding drug companies accountable for medication collection and disposal, the onus falls mainly on the consumer to make responsible choices that will protect the environment and our health. So how does one safely dispose of old, expired, unused or unwanted meds? HuffPost spoke to a few experts to find out.