I'm a nurse and I've never heard of a pharmacy saying they won't take the old pills that is the proper way to get rid of them. You may have talked to a Pharmacy Tech that could be a student or not know what the proper procedures are. You can't flush them down the toilet as it will go to the water reservoir. Call your pharmacy and ask to speak to the Pharmacist if he says no call one of the other ones. A fire department with an EMT service would be a good alternate place to go, they take disposable needles, etc.