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 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RAMP (Recycled AIDS Medication Donation) |
San Francisco Community Health Center 730 Polk St, 4th floor |
San Francisco | Reuse | Free Drop-off, Free Mail-in | AIDS Medication. We accept both opened and sealed bottles. Mark-out the patient name, address, and doctor information. Do not remove the medication name, strength, or expiration. We do not accept narcotics, sleeping medications, or tranquilizers. | |
RAMP (Recycled AIDS Medicine Program) Mail-In |
2261 Market St., #328 (Mailing address for medication donations) |
San Francisco | Reuse | Free Drop-off | AIDS Medication. We accept both opened and sealed bottles. Mark-out the patient name, address, and doctor information. Do not remove the medication name, strength, or expiration. We do not accept narcotics, sleeping medications, or tranquilizers. | |
RAMP (Recycled AIDS Medicine Program) Drop-off Location (Spahr Center) |
Spahr Center 150 Nellen Ave |
Corte Madera | Reuse | Free Drop-off | AIDS Medications. We accept both opened and sealed bottles. Mark-out the patient name, address, and doctor information. Do not remove the medication name, strength, or expiration. We do not accept narcotics, sleeping medications, or tranquilizers. | |
RAMP (Recycled AIDS Medicine Program) Drop-off Location (Food for Thought) |
Food for Thought/Sonoma County AIDS Food Bank 6550 Railroad Ave |
Forestville | Reuse | Free Drop-off | AIDS Medication. We accept both opened and sealed bottles. Mark-out the patient name, address, and doctor information. Do not remove the medication name, strength, or expiration. We do not accept narcotics, sleeping medications, or tranquilizers. | |
RAMP (Recycled AIDS Medicine Program) Drop-off Location (Mail Access) |
2261 Market St (between Noe St & Sanchez St) |
San Francisco | Reuse | Free Drop-off | AIDS Medications. We accept both opened and sealed bottles. Mark-out the patient name, address, and doctor information. Do not remove the medication name, strength, or expiration. We do not accept narcotics, sleeping medications, or tranquilizers. | |
RAMP (Recycled AIDS Medicine Program) Drop-off Location (SF LGBT Center) |
SF LGBT Center 1800 Market St |
San Francisco | Reuse | Free Drop-off | AIDS Medications. We accept both opened and sealed bottles. Mark-out the patient name, address, and doctor information. Do not remove the medication name, strength, or expiration. We do not accept narcotics, sleeping medications, or tranquilizers. | |
Alameda County Household Hazardous Waste Program (Fremont Facility) | 41149 Boyce Rd. | Fremont | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | Accept non-controlled substance medications. See https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/schedules/ for controlled substance lists. (To Note: the Oakland, Livermore, & Hayward HHW Facilities DO NOT accept medication.) | |
Walgreens | 901 Hyde St. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | ||
CVS Pharmacy (344 Thomas L. Berkeley Way) | 344 Thomas L. Berkeley Way | 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. | |
CVS Pharmacy (35720 Fremont Blvd) | 35720 Fremont Blvd | 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. | |
Walgreens | 498 Castro 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. | |
El Cerrito Recycling + Environmental Resource Center | 7501 Schmidt Ln. | El Cerrito | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off, Paid Drop-off | 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). | |
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. | |
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. | |
Shoreway Environmental Center (SEC) | 333 Shoreway Road | San Carlos | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | Public Recycling Center. Non-controlled substances only. In ziploc bags.,Public Recycling Center. Non-controlled substances only. Pills in ziploc bags. Businesses: Unopened, unexpired medication only. Enter surplus online/fax & add prepaid shipping label. Pick up is next day. | |
Northern Police Station | 1125 Fillmore 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! | |
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. | |
North East Medical Services | 2574 San Bruno Avenue | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | ||
WM Think Green From Home | 172 98th Ave | Oakland | Safe Disposal | Paid Mail-in | Online service. Programs for residents and businesses. | |
Walgreens | 45 Castro St. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off |