Safe MEDICINE Disposal

Frequently Asked Questions about Safe Medicine Disposal

safe medication disposal box
MED-Project community kiosk drop-off site

Medicine take-back options are the safest way to dispose of unwanted, unused, or expired medications. There are physical locations where medications can be discreetly dropped off into a secure receptacle, and there are also free mail-back envelopes that can be picked up, filled, and dropped at any postbox.

There are also multiple locations for medicine disposal throughout Marin County, where medications can be dropped off for take-back.

If you are unable to regularly go to a disposal location, mail-back envelopes are available throughout Marin. With an envelope, you can securely mail out drugs for disposal via the U.S. Postal Service. Find your nearest disposal or mail-back site here.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) hosts Drug Take-Back Days in temporary locations where communities can give back prescription drugs for safe disposal.

Regularly disposing of your medications prevents intentional and unintentional drug misuse and injury. Children, youth, and the elderly are especially at risk for injury and overdose.

Improper medicine disposal can have harmful environmental effects. Flushing medications can cause various consequences in waterways and negatively impact our communities.

The DEA recommends cleaning out your medicine cabinet twice a year. Safe disposal sites are available year-round.

Naloxone Disposal

Unused naloxone: When you are ready to dispose of the expired naloxone, there are a few options:

  1. Use pre-paid mail-back envelopes via the US Postal Service. You can request envelopes via this website: Mail-Back Services-MED-Project.
  2. Find a local Drug Take-Back location.
  3. Discard it in “household” trash. If the canisters/nasal spray are no longer sealed in their original plastic, the request is to place them in plastic bags before throwing away to prevent leakage.

Used naloxone:

Injectable naloxone: Put the used injectable naloxone back into its original container/box. Used injectable naloxone is considered medical waste and must be disposed of in a sharps disposal bin, such as at a local pharmacy. Do not throw away used injectable naloxone in solid waste trash.

Nasal spray: Put the used naloxone nasal spray back into its box. Dispose of it in solid waste trash.

Source: CDPH