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
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.
CVS (701 Portola Dr) 701 Portola Dr 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.
San Leandro Hospital 1401 Washington Ave San Leandro Safe Disposal Free Drop-off Drop-box inside. 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.
Sharps Solutions 3563 Investment Blvd.
Suite 6
Hayward Safe Disposal Pick-up for a Fee Commercial quantity. Prepaid container program.
AHF Pharmacy 4071 18th 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.
CVS Pharmacy 2701 Middlefield Road Palo Alto Safe Disposal Free Drop-off CVS does not accept controlled substances. All medications must be in their original containers.
Clayton Police Department 6000 Heritage Trail Clayton Safe Disposal Free Drop-off
CVS Pharmacy (14869 E 14th) 14869 East 14th St San Leandro Safe Disposal Free Drop-off Kiosk inside. All medications, including Controlled Substances. Bring pills in a ziploc bag, with liquids & creams in their own bag. Recycle plastic bottles & lids.
Concord Police Department 1350 Galindo St. Concord Safe Disposal Free Drop-off
CVS Pharmacy (1500 1st St) 1500 First St 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.
Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital 1001 Potrero Avenue San Francisco Safe Disposal Free Drop-off
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.
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.
Richmond Police Department 1701 Regatta Blvd. Richmond 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.
CVS (400 Sutter St) 400 Sutter 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.
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.
Alameda County Household Hazardous Waste Program (Fremont Facility) 41149 Boyce Rd.
(At the Fremont Transfer Station - follow the trucks)
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
Post Divisadero Medical Pharmacy 2299 Post 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
Visitacion Valley Pharmacy 100 Leland Ave. 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.

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