
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veolia Environmental Services | 1125 Hensley St | Richmond | Safe Disposal | Mail-in for a Fee | Non-DEA pharmaceuticals | |
| 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. | |
| San Ramon Police Department | 2401 Crow Canyon Rd. | San Ramon | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | ||
| Dublin Police Services | 6361 Clark Ave | 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. | |
| 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. | |
| Walgreens | 3838 California St. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | ||
| 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 Pharmacy (26059 Mission Blvd) | 26059 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. | |
| Walgreens (San Leandro) |
15500 Washington Ave Cross streets: Washington & Leweling |
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. | |
| 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! | |
| CVS Pharmacy (Island Dr) | 885 Island Drive | Alameda | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | Drop-box inside | |
| 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. | |
| Safeway (6790 Bernal Ave) | 6790 Bernal Ave | Pleasanton | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | Drop-off Kiosk inside at Pharmacy | |
| Safeway (6310 College Ave) | 6310 College Ave | Oakland | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | Drop-off Kiosk inside at Pharmacy | |
| Sharps Solutions |
3563 Investment Blvd. Suite 6 |
Hayward | Safe Disposal | Pick-up for a Fee | Commercial quantity. Prepaid container program. | |
| Walgreens | 500 Parnassus Ave., Level J | 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, 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). | |
| Berkeley Police Department | 2100 Martin Luther King Jr Way | 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 in curbside recycling cart. | |
| Kaiser Permanente Pharmacy (Pleasanton) |
7601 Stoneridge Dr South 1 Pharmacy |
Pleasanton | 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. |
