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Are unused and expired medications filling up your medicine cabinet? Don’t flush them down the drain or throw them in the trash. Help protect your family and the environment by taking your unwanted medication to a participating take-back location.
Why is this a problem?
Recent studies show that pharmaceuticals in rivers and streams, if present at high enough concentrations, can harm aquatic wildlife. When flushed down the drain, some medications are not completely removed by wastewater treatment plants and are discharged to surface waters. Proper disposal of unused pharmaceuticals can help protect the environment.
Safe Medicine Disposal Program
To address this issue the Safe Medicine Disposal Program is partnering with local agencies, pharmacies and law enforcement offices to provide safe medicine disposal locations in the Russian River Watershed and throughout Sonoma County.
How to participate:
- Bring unwanted medication to a participating location for safe disposal during business hours.
- Remove medication from containers and deposit in the disposal bin. Locations in stores will be near the pharmacy.
- We cannot accept controlled substances.
How to handle your medication that is ready for disposal:
Pills & Capsules
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Remove all pills and capsules from containers and pour into a re-sealable plastic baggie.
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Recycle empty pill containers at home.
Liquids, Ointments, Creams & Lotions
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Black out personal information on label.
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Leave liquid, lotion, ointment or cream in the original container.
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Place container into a re-sealable plastic baggie and then into the medical waste collection bin.
Medication Patches & Sample Packets
- Black out personal information on label.
- Place blister packs containing pills or capsules directly into the collection bin.
- Place patches directly into collection bin.
Items Accepted:
- Prescription and over-the-counter -pills and capsules
- Liquid medications, including ointments, lotions and creams (in sealed containers please!)
- Veterinary medications
- Vitamins, supplements, homeopathic remedies
- Medical patches
- Inhalers (empty)
- Medical samples
Items not Accepted:
- Controlled substances (click link to see how the FDA recommends you dispose of controlled substances)
- IV bags
- Bloody or infectious waste
- Personal care products (body lotion, shampoo etc.)
- Aerosol cans
- Epi-pens and other needles/sharps
- Thermometers
- Illegal drugs
- Medical marijuana
- Any other waste or medication not listed under “Items Accepted”