Guide for Reuse, Repair, Recycling, and Safe Disposal
for Alameda County, Contra Costa County, and the City of Palo Alto

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Medications

Medications include over-the-counter and doctor-prescribed medicine taken orally or applied topically, like creams, lotions or shampoos, for people or pets. Does not include vitamins or dietary supplements.

Search the MED-Project location finder for more safe disposal options for unwanted and expired medication.

Household Hazardous Waste

This item should never be put in a curbside bin. For more information visit our household hazardous waste page.

Pre-filled syringes and auto-injectors with an integral or attached needle is considered a "sharp."

Old vitamins and supplements may be composted along with the cotton filler. Packaging can be recycled (ex. clean, dry plastic bottle) or put in the garbage (ex. blister packs). Silica gel packs can be reused (e.g. edible dry goods) or landfilled.

Unmedicated lotions, cosmetics, fragrances, sunscreen agents, and similar products belong in your household trash. Do not put these products down the drain or into the toilet.

Prepare your medicines for disposal before arriving at a kiosk site. Accepted items include all prescription drugs in any dosage form (e.g. pills, liquids, creams, aerosols). Protect your privacy by removing or obscuring any labels showing your personal information on drug containers or vials. You can pour all your pills into a Zip-lock bag no larger than 1 gallon in size, and recycle the vials and other containers in your home recycling. Liquids and creams should remain in their original containers and tightly closed to prevent leakage. Aerosols should have their protective caps affixed to prevent accidental discharge. Remove inhaler vials from the inhaler housing. Kiosks are located near the pharmacy area, or for hospitals and police departments, in the lobby.

At the kiosk: Take care at the kiosk not to introduce too many materials into the kiosk drop-chute at one time. Check the kiosk chute after closing to ensure the drugs dropped into the kiosk. Federal law prevents anyone from reviewing or examining the drugs you wish to dispose, so place them in the kiosk yourself – do not accept any unsolicited assistance to do so.

If there are problems with the information or services provided by MedProject.org, please contact safedrugdisposal@acgov.org.

Vendors

Vendor Address City Destination Disposal Method Notes
Mowry Medical Pharmacy 1999 Mowry Ave
Suite 2A
Fremont Safe Disposal Free Drop-off Drop-box inside. All medications, including Controlled Substances. Bring pills in a ziploc bag, with liquids & creams in their own bag. Recycle plastic bottles & lids.
Moraga Police Department 329 Rheem Blvd. Moraga Safe Disposal Free Drop-off
Mission Wellness Pharmacy (2424 Mission) 2424 Mission San Francisco Safe Disposal Free Drop-off Mix all pills into a plastic bag. Remove any personal info and recycle empty pill bottles. Keep liquid medicine in original container.
Mission Police Station 630 Valencia St. San Francisco Safe Disposal Free Drop-off Mix all pills into a plastic bag. Remove any personal info and recycle empty pill bottles. Keep liquid medicine in original container. Wait times may apply, CALL AHEAD!
Mission Pharmacy 22138 Mission Blvd Hayward Safe Disposal Free Drop-off Drop-box inside. All medications, including Controlled Substances. Bring pills in a ziploc bag, with liquids & creams in their own bag. Recycle plastic bottles & lids.
MedPro Disposal 1548 Bond St
#106
Naperville Safe Disposal Pick-up for a Fee Large quantity
MED-Project: Bay Area Meds Drop-Box Location Finder 1800 M St, NW Washington Safe Disposal Free Drop-off Online location finder. Cross out or remove personal identifying information on the medicated liquid or cream containers and place solid medicines in a sealed plastic bag for drop-box disposal. Recycle rigid plastic pill containers at home.
Martinez Police Department 525 Henrietta St. Martinez Safe Disposal Free Drop-off
MAP International Reuse Free Mail-in Large quantity from manufacturers or suppliers. Pharmaceuticals and over the counter medicines.
Kaiser Permanente Pharmacy (Union City) 3553 Whipple Rd
Building B, 1st Floor (Main Pharmacy)
Union City Safe Disposal Free Drop-off Drop-box inside. All medications, including Controlled Substances. Bring pills in a ziploc bag, with liquids & creams in their own bag. Recycle plastic bottles & lids in curbside recycling cart.
Kaiser Permanente Pharmacy (San Leandro) 2500 Merced St
Building A, 1st Floor
San Leandro Safe Disposal Free Drop-off Drop-box inside. all medications, including Controlled Substances. Bring pills in a ziploc bag, with liquids & creams in their own bag. Recycle plastic bottles & lids in curbside recycling cart.
Kaiser Permanente Pharmacy (Pleasanton) 7601 Stoneridge Dr
South 1 Pharmacy
Pleasanton Safe Disposal Free Drop-off Drop-box inside. all medications, including Controlled Substances. Bring pills in a ziploc bag, with liquids & creams in their own bag. Recycle plastic bottles & lids in curbside recycling cart.
Kaiser Permanente Pharmacy (Oakland 3701 Broadway) 3701 Broadway
1st Floor
Oakland Safe Disposal Free Drop-off Drop-box inside. all medications, including Controlled Substances. Bring pills in a ziploc bag, with liquids & creams in their own bag. Recycle plastic bottles & lids in curbside recycling cart.
Kaiser Permanente Pharmacy (Oakland 3600 Broadway) 3600 Broadway
1st Floor
Oakland Safe Disposal Free Drop-off Drop-box inside. all medications, including Controlled Substances. Bring pills in a ziploc bag, with liquids & creams in their own bag. Recycle plastic bottles & lids in curbside recycling cart.
Kaiser Permanente Pharmacy (Oakland - Fabiola 1) 3801 Howe St
Fabiola,1st Floor
Oakland Safe Disposal Free Drop-off Drop-box inside. all medications, including Controlled Substances. Bring pills in a ziploc bag, with liquids & creams in their own bag. Recycle plastic bottles & lids in curbside recycling cart.
Kaiser Permanente Pharmacy (Livermore) 3000 Las Positas Rd Livermore Safe Disposal Free Drop-off Drop-box inside. All medications, including Controlled Substances. Bring pills in a ziploc bag, with liquids & creams in their own bag. Recycle plastic bottles & lids.
Kaiser Permanente Pharmacy (Hayward) 27303 Sleepy Hollow Ave South
Sleepy Hollow Building, 1st Floor
Hayward Safe Disposal Free Drop-off Drop-box inside. all medications, including Controlled Substances. Bring pills in a ziploc bag, with liquids & creams in their own bag. Recycle plastic bottles & lids in curbside recycling cart.
Kaiser Permanente Pharmacy (Alameda) 2417 Central Ave Alameda Safe Disposal Free Drop-off Drop-box inside. all medications, including Controlled Substances. Bring pills in a ziploc bag, with liquids & creams in their own bag. Recycle plastic bottles & lids in curbside recycling cart.
Kaiser Permanente Ohlone Pharmacy (Fremont) 39400 Paseo Padre Pkwy
Niles East Building, 3rd Floor Pharmacy
Fremont Safe Disposal Free Drop-off Drop-box inside. All medications, including Controlled Substances. Bring pills in a ziploc bag, with liquids & creams in their own bag. Recycle plastic bottles & lids.
Kaiser Permanente (Oakland-Pediatric Mosswood) 3505 Broadway
Pediatric Mosswood Building, 4th floor
Oakland Safe Disposal Free Drop-off Drop-box inside. all medications, including Controlled Substances. Bring pills in a Ziploc bag, with liquids & creams in their own bag. Recycle plastic bottles & lids in curbside recycling cart.

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