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 Pharmacy (Marina Village Pkwy) 931 Marina Village Parkway Alameda Safe Disposal Free Drop-off Drop-box inside
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.
North East Medical Services 1019 Clement 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
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.
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.
Taraval Police Station 2345 24th 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. Wait times may apply, CALL AHEAD!
Moraga Police Department 329 Rheem Blvd. Moraga Safe Disposal Free Drop-off
Rite Aid Pharmacy (1991 Mountain Blvd) 1991 Mountain Blvd Oakland Safe Disposal Free Drop-off
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
Walgreens 45 Castro St. San Francisco Safe Disposal Free Drop-off
CVS Pharmacy 352 University Avenue Palo Alto Safe Disposal Free Drop-off CVS does not accept controlled substances. All medications must be in their original containers.
CVS Pharmacy (4405 1st St) 4405 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.
CVS Pharmacy (Santa Clara Ave) 2314 Santa Clara Ave Alameda Safe Disposal Free Drop-off Drop-box inside
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.
Community Behavioral Health Services 1380 Howard Street, Suite 130 San Francisco Safe Disposal Free Drop-off
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.
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.
Tenderloin Police Station 301 Eddy 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!
Walgreens 5280 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.

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