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
CVS (3600 Geary Blvd) 3600 Geary Blvd 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.
CVS (351 California St) 351 California St 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.
CVS (1900 19th Ave) 1900 19th Ave 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.
CVS (1101 Market St) 1101 Market St 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.
CVS (1059 Hyde St) 1059 Hyde St 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.
Custom Care Pharmacy 4271 First Street Pleasanton Safe Disposal Free Drop-off Pills should be poured out into Ziploc bags (it protects your privacy and lowers disposal costs). Place containers of liquids & creams in their own Ziploc bag. No controlled substances. Drop box inside. www.stopwaste.org/medication
CSU East Bay Pharmacy Student Services and Administration
28500 Carlos Bee Blvd
Hayward Safe Disposal Free Drop-off Drop-off Kiosk. 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.
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center - Sheriff's Substation 2500 Alhambra Avenue Martinez Safe Disposal Free Drop-off
Contra Costa County Sheriff's Field Operations Building 1980 Muir Road Martinez Safe Disposal Free Drop-off
Concord Police Department 1350 Galindo St. Concord Safe Disposal Free Drop-off
Community Programs Building (SF Sheriff's Department) 70 Oak Grove Street 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.
Community Behavioral Health Services 1380 Howard Street, Suite 130 San Francisco Safe Disposal Free Drop-off
Clover Pharmacy & Wellness 6170 Thornton Ave
Suite E
Newark Safe Disposal Free Drop-off Drop-off kiosk inside.
Clayworth Healthcare Pharmacy 20353 Lake Chabot Rd
Suite 101
Castro Valley Safe Disposal Free Drop-off All pills, including controlled substances, should be poured out into Ziploc bags. (Recycle bottles & lids) Place original containers of liquids & creams in their own Ziploc bag. Obscure personal information.
Clayton Police Department 6000 Heritage Trail Clayton Safe Disposal Free Drop-off
Clay Medical Pharmacy 929 Clay St. Suite 103
# 103
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.
City of Palo Alto Household Hazardous Waste Station Program 2501 Embarcadero Way Palo Alto Safe Disposal Free Drop-off No controlled substances. Consolidate pills into one container & leave ointments & liquids in original container. Dispose of vitamins in the garbage.
City of Hercules - City Hall Drop-off Kiosk 111 Civic Drive Hercules Safe Disposal Free Drop-off Medications (No controlled substances allowed). Put loose pills and bottled liquids in a sealed plastic bag. Black out any personal information.
Chinese Hospital Pharmacy 845 Jackson 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.
Charlie's Pharmacy 1101 Fillmore St. San Francisco Safe Disposal Free Drop-off This location only accepts non-controlled substances. View the complete list of controlled substances at http://sfenvironment.org/medicinedisposal

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