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

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
Clover Pharmacy & Wellness 6170 Thornton Ave
Suite E
Newark Safe Disposal Free Drop-off Drop-off kiosk inside.
Newark Police Department 37101 Newark Blvd Newark 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.
CVS Pharmacy (Newark) 35080 Newark Blvd Newark Safe Disposal Free Drop-off 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 mechanism.
MedPro Disposal 1548 Bond St
#106
Naperville Safe Disposal Pick-up for a Fee Large quantity
Moraga Police Department 329 Rheem Blvd. Moraga Safe Disposal Free Drop-off
Contra Costa County Sheriff's Field Operations Building 1980 Muir Road Martinez Safe Disposal Free Drop-off
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center - Sheriff's Substation 2500 Alhambra Avenue Martinez Safe Disposal Free Drop-off
Martinez Police Department 525 Henrietta St. Martinez Safe Disposal Free Drop-off
Kaiser Permanente Pharmacy (Livermore) 3000 Las Positas Rd 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 (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.
Rite Aid Pharmacy (968 Murrieta Blvd) 968 Murrieta Blvd Livermore Safe Disposal Free Drop-off
Rite Aid Pharmacy (1350 N Vasco Rd) 1350 N Vasco Rd Livermore 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.
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.
CSU East Bay Pharmacy Student Services and Administration
28500 Carlos Bee Blvd
Hayward Safe Disposal Free Drop-off Drop-off Kiosk. 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 mechanism.
Stericycle (Hayward) 30542 San Antonio St Hayward Safe Disposal Pick-up for a Fee Pharmaceutical Waste
Rite Aid Pharmacy (31091 Mission Blvd) 31091 Mission Blvd Hayward Safe Disposal Free Drop-off
Sharps Solutions 3563 Investment Blvd.
Suite 6
Hayward Safe Disposal Pick-up for a Fee Commercial quantity. Prepaid container program.
Tennyson Pharmacy 589 W Tennyson Rd Hayward Safe Disposal Free Drop-off Drop-box inside.
CVS Pharmacy (22501 Foothill Blvd) 22501 Foothill 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.

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