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 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rite Aid Pharmacy (1350 N Vasco Rd) | 1350 N Vasco Rd | Livermore | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | ||
Rite Aid Pharmacy (1355 MacArthur Blvd) | 1355 MacArthur Blvd | San Leandro | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | Kiosk 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. | |
Rite Aid Pharmacy (1991 Mountain Blvd) | 1991 Mountain Blvd | Oakland | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | ||
Rite Aid Pharmacy (2819 Hopyard Rd) | 2819 Hopyard Rd | Pleasanton | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | ||
Rite Aid Pharmacy (31091 Mission Blvd) | 31091 Mission Blvd | Hayward | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | ||
Rite Aid Pharmacy (3848 Castro Valley Blvd) | 3848 Castro Valley Blvd | Castro Valley | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | ||
Rite Aid Pharmacy (968 Murrieta Blvd) | 968 Murrieta Blvd | Livermore | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | ||
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. | |
San Ramon Police Department | 2401 Crow Canyon Rd. | San Ramon | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | ||
SF State University, Student Health Services | 1600 Holloway 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. | |
Sharps Solutions |
3563 Investment Blvd. Suite 6 |
Hayward | Safe Disposal | Pick-up for a Fee | Commercial quantity. Prepaid container program. | |
Shoreway Environmental Center (SEC) | 333 Shoreway Road | San Carlos | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | Public Recycling Center. Non-controlled substances only. In ziploc bags.,Public Recycling Center. Non-controlled substances only. Pills in ziploc bags. Businesses: Unopened, unexpired medication only. Enter surplus online/fax & add prepaid shipping label. Pick up is next day. | |
Sirum | P.O. Box 19636 | Stanford | Safe Disposal | Free Mail-in | Manufacturers, Wholesalers, Pharmacies and Nursing Homes & Assisted Living (Sign up to donate &/or receive). Requirements: Sealed/Unopened, 5+ months from expiration, Non-refrigerated, Non-controlled. | |
Southern Police Station | 1251 3rd 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! | |
Stanford Healthcare Pharmacy |
875 Blake Wilbur Drive CC1102 |
Palo Alto | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | ||
Stericycle (Hayward) | 30542 San Antonio St | Hayward | Safe Disposal | Pick-up for a Fee | Pharmaceutical Waste | |
Stericycle (San Jose) | 189 Stauffer Blvd | San Jose | Safe Disposal | Pick-up for a Fee | Pharmaceutical Waste | |
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! | |
Ted's Drugs | 27453 Hesperian Blvd | Hayward | 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. | |
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! |