
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| Park Police Station | 1899 Waller 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! | |
| CVS (701 Portola Dr) | 701 Portola Dr | 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 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. | |
| 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 (22280 Foothill Blvd ) | 22280 Foothill Blvd | Hayward | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | Drop-off Kiosk inside at Pharmacy | |
| 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.) | |
| Capsule Pharmacy |
2557 Mowry Ave Suite 11 |
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. | |
| 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 | 2690 Mission 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. | |
| 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. | |
| Contra Costa Regional Medical Center - Sheriff's Substation | 2500 Alhambra Avenue | Martinez | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | ||
| CVS Pharmacy (243 W Jackson St) | 243 West Jackson St | 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. | |
| Tennyson Pharmacy | 589 W Tennyson Rd | Hayward | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | Drop-box inside. | |
| Richmond Police Station | 461 6th 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 (400 Sutter St) | 400 Sutter 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. | |
| CVS Pharmacy (Island Dr) | 885 Island Drive | Alameda | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | Drop-box inside | |
| Walgreens | 500 Parnassus Ave., Level J | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | Mix all pills into a plastic bag. Remove any personal info and recycle empty pill bottles. | |
| Safeway (1444 Shattuck Place) | 1444 Shattuck Place | Berkeley | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | Drop-off Kiosk inside at Pharmacy |
