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.
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 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kaiser Permanente (French Campus) | 4141 Geary Blvd., 1st Floor | 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. | |
Kaiser Medical Offices Pharmacy (Dublin) | 3100 Dublin Blvd | Dublin | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | Drop-box inside. | |
Kaiser Medical Office Pharmacy (Berkeley) | 2621 Tenth St | Berkeley | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | Drop-box in pharmacy. | |
Jade Pharmacy |
34460 Fremont Blvd Suite B |
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. | |
Ingleside Police Station | 1 John V. Young Ln. | 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! | |
Highland Hospital Outpatient Pharmacy | 1411 E. 31st St | 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. | |
Haller's Pharmacy & Medical Supply (37323 Fremont Blvd) | 37323 Fremont Boulevard | 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. | |
Golden Gate Pharmacy | 1836 Noriega Street | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | Only available during pharmacy hours. Mix all pills into a plastic bag. Remove any personal info and recycle empty pill bottles. | |
Emeryville Police Department | 2449 Powell St | Emeryville | 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. | |
El Cerrito Recycling + Environmental Resource Center | 7501 Schmidt Ln. | El Cerrito | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off, Drop-off for a Fee | Fees for non-residents.remove excess packaging; empty pills into Ziploc-type bag for disposal; mix pills together. Liquids, creams, inhalers do not need to be bagged. Check online for more information on how to use the disposal bin and a list of EBMUD and BayWise disposal sites. Recyclemore.com has additional drop-off locations. Bin always locked; seek staff for assistance (office and/or yard). ,No fees for residents. Remove excess packaging; empty pills into Ziploc-type bag for disposal; mix pills together. Liquids, creams, inhalers do not need to be bagged. Check online for more information on how to use the disposal bin and a list of EBMUD and BayWise disposal sites. Recyclemore.com has additional drop-off locations. Bin always locked; seek staff for assistance (office and/or yard). | |
Eden Medical Center Hospital |
20103 Lake Chabot Road (Drop-off Bin in the Lobby) |
Castro Valley | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | Collect pills into Ziploc bag. Recycle pill bottles in your recycling bin. Place containers of liquids & creams in their own Ziploc bag. Drop box in the lobby. | |
Dublin Police Services | 100 Civic Plaza | Dublin | 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. | |
Don't Rush To Flush - Medication & Sharps Drop-box Location Finder |
California Product Stewardship Council 1822 21st St; Suite 100 |
Sacramento | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | ||
Delta HHW Collection Facility | 2550 Pittsburg-Antioch Hwy | Antioch | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off, Drop-off for a Fee | No controlled substances. Go to https://www.deltadiablo.org/pharmaceuticals for more information. | |
Danville Police Department | 510 La Gonda Way | Danville | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | ||
CVS Pharmacy (Telegraph Ave) | 2655 Telegraph Ave | Berkeley | 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. | |
CVS Pharmacy (Santa Clara Ave) | 2314 Santa Clara Ave | Alameda | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | Drop-box inside | |
CVS Pharmacy (Newark) | 35080 Newark Blvd | Newark | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | 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 mechanism. | |
CVS Pharmacy (Marina Village Pkwy) | 931 Marina Village Parkway | Alameda | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | Drop-box inside | |
CVS Pharmacy (Island Dr) | 885 Island Drive | Alameda | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | Drop-box inside |