Drop-Off Locations
Who Can Participate?
Residents of Sonoma and Mendocino County can dispose of their unused, expired, or otherwise unwanted medications free of charge at participating take-back locations. (No businesses, clinics or institutional entities)
How To Participate
There are two ways for you participate in the free Safe Medicine Disposal Program. Use one of the Drop-off Locations (perfect for larger volumes of medicine) or for smaller volumes, you can also use the mail-back envelopes.
How to Use a Drop-off Bin
Locate a participating location in the list below
Prepare your medicines for disposal using the instructions and tips below
Bring your unwanted medicines to the Safe Medicine Disposal location, place them into the collection bin and you’re done!
Items Not Accepted At The Drop-Off Locations:
Needles/sharps/EPIPEN (Pre-filled injectors are only accepted via MED-Project Mail Back Envelope)
Schedule I Controlled Substances (examples: heroin, LSD)
Cannabis (medical or recreational)
Illegal drugs
IV bags
Bloody or infectious waste
Biologics (such as insulin)
Cosmetics or personal care products (body lotion, shampoo etc.) (Products can be disposed of through the Household Hazardous Waste programs.)
Aerosol cans (Products can be disposed of through the Household Hazardous Waste programs.)
Thermometers or medical devices
Batteries
Inhalers (Inhalers only accepted via MED-Project Mail Back Envelope)
Pet pesticide products
Animal medicines
Items Accepted At The Drop-Off Locations:
Controlled Substances, Schedule II - V. For a list of controlled substances, visit the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration
Prescription and over-the-counter -pills and capsules
Liquid medications, including ointments, lotions and creams (in sealed containers please!)
Preparing Your Medication For Disposal
How to prepare your medications for disposal at a drop-off bin:
To protect your privacy, residents are reminded to remove all personally identifiable information on medication labels or packaging before disposing of unwanted medicine.
Follow storage instructions as provided on medicine labels and on the information accompanying medicine.
Keep medicine in a secure location safely away from people or pets that might come in contact with it.
Do not place medicine in the trash or recycling, and never flush down the toilet..
Pills & Capsules
Keep pills in their original containers or empty into a sealable plastic bag.
Black out personal information on labels.
Recycle empty pill containers at home.
Drop-Off Locations
Coordinated Pharmaceutical Stewardship website: medtakebackcalifornia.org
Coordinated Sharps Waste Stewardship website: sharpstakebackcalifornia.org
Law enforcement locations listed below also accept medicine drop-off. Click on the location name to view a map of that location.
All locations accept household medications free of charge.
Other Safe Medicine Disposal Location Resources:
National Prescription Drug Take-Back Days
Dispose of medications, including controlled substances, at special one-day collection events sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Visit DEA Take Back Day for upcoming events and more information.