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
West County Wastewater 2910 Hilltop Drive 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.
Veolia Environmental Services 1125 Hensley St Richmond Safe Disposal Mail-in for a Fee Non-DEA pharmaceuticals
CVS Pharmacy (3999 Santa Rita Rd) 3999 Santa Rita Rd 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.
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.
Rite Aid Pharmacy (2819 Hopyard Rd) 2819 Hopyard Rd Pleasanton Safe Disposal Free Drop-off
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
Pleasanton Police Department 4833 Bernal Ave 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.
CVS Pharmacy (3010 Bernal Ave) 3010 Bernal Ave 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.
CVS Pharmacy (6750 Bernal Ave) 6750 Bernal Ave 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.
Pleasant Hill Police Department 330 Civic Dr. Pleasant Hill Safe Disposal Free Drop-off
PInole Police Department 880 Tennent Avenue Pinole Safe Disposal Free Drop-off
Piedmont Police Department 403 Highland Avenue Piedmont Safe Disposal Free Drop-off Drop-box inside lobby. 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.
Wellspring Pharmacy 4184 C Piedmont Ave Piedmont 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.
Walgreens 2605 Middlefield Rd Palo Alto Safe Disposal Free Drop-off Walgreens does not accept controlled substances. All medications must be in their original containers.
Walgreens 4170 El Camino Real Palo Alto Safe Disposal Free Drop-off Walgreens does not accept controlled substances. All medications must be in their original containers.
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.
Palo Alto Medical Foundation- Walgreens Pharmacy 795 El Camino Real
Lee Building, Level A
Palo Alto Safe Disposal Free Drop-off Items accepted from patients only. No controlled substances. Consolidate pills into one container & leave ointments & liquids in original container. Dispose of vitamins in the garbage.
Palo Alto Police Department 275 Forest Avenue Palo Alto Safe Disposal Free Drop-off Accepts medications and controlled substances.
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.
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.

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