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How to Dispose

Step-by-Step Guide

Confused about what to do with your unwanted or expired medication? The rules about what kinds of medicine can be accepted can vary from place to place and program to program, making it difficult to know what to do. Learn more about how to dispose of different types of medication in your area by following the prompts below.

Before you take your unwanted or expired medicine to a drop off location, be sure to black out any personal information on prescription medicine. Collection programs vary in how they accept medicine – some prefer you to consolidate your medicine in a ziplock bag, while others want the medicine kept in the original container. Contact your local collection program for guidance.

Find A Drop-off Location

What type of medication do you have?

Pills

Liquid

Inhaler

Sharps

Dermal Patches

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Pills

Do you have unwanted or expired medication in the form of pills either in a bottle or a blister pack? These may be prescription, controlled, or over-the-counter medications.

Find a local take-back program.

If your local take-back program does not accept controlled substances, use an alternative.

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Find a local take-back program.

Find a local take-back program.

The medication is a controlled substance.

The medication is not a controlled substance.

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The medication is a controlled substance.

The medication is a controlled substance.

If your local take-back program accepts pill medications that are controlled substances, keep them in their original container, regardless of whether they are in a blister pack or a bottle.
Black out any personal identifying information. Leave the information about the medication type and dosage if possible.
Drop off your medications in the provided container.

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Pills - 2.The medication is not a controlled substance.

The medication is not a controlled substance.

Keep the medication in its original container.
Black out any personal identifying information. Leave the information about the medication type and dosage if possible.
Drop off your medications in the provided container.

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Pills - 2. If your local take-back program does not accept controlled substances, use an alternative.

If your local take-back program does not accept controlled substances, use an alternative.

Request or purchase a medication disposal envelope from your pharmacy.

Dispose of unwanted or expired medication in the trash.

Purchase and use a drug destruction product.

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Pills - 2a. Request or purchase a medication disposal envelope from your pharmacy.

Request or purchase a medication disposal envelope from your pharmacy.

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Pills - 2b. Dispose of unwanted or expired medication in the trash.

Dispose of unwanted or expired medication in the trash.

Black out any personal identifying information. Leave the medication type and dosage information if possible.
Add a safe but unpalatable substance such as kitty litter, dish/laundry soap, used coffee grounds, or dirt to the medication container and then seal it.
Seal the medicine in a leak-proof container such as a coffee can.
Dispose of the mixture in the trash as close to pick-up day as possible.

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Pills - 2c. Purchase and use a drug destruction product.

Request or purchase a medication disposal envelope from your pharmacy.

This factsheet from OSU Extension gives an overview of available products.

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LIQUID

Do you have unwanted or expired liquid medications, such as antibiotics or cough syrup? These may be prescription or over-the-counter medications.

Find a local take-back program.

If your local take-back program does not accept liquid medication, use an alternative.

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LIQUIDS 1- Find a local take-back program.

Find a local take-back program.

If your local take-back program accepts liquid medications, keep them in their original container.
Black out any personal identifying information. Leave the medication type and dosage information if possible.
Drop off your medications in the provided container.

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LIQUIDS 2- If your local take-back program does not accept liquid medication, use an alternative.

If your local take-back program does not accept liquid medication, use an alternative.

Request or purchase a medication disposal envelope from your pharmacy.

Dispose of unwanted or expired medication in the trash.

Purchase and use a drug destruction product.

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LIQUIDS 2a- Request or purchase a medication disposal envelope from your pharmacy.

Request or purchase a medication disposal envelope from your pharmacy.

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LIQUIDS 2b. - Dispose of unwanted or expired medication in the trash.

Dispose of unwanted or expired medication in the trash.

Black out any personal identifying information. Leave the medication type and dosage information if possible.
Add a safe but unpalatable substance such as kitty litter, dish/laundry soap, used coffee grounds, or dirt to the medication container and then seal it.
Seal the medicine in a leak-proof container such as a coffee can.
Dispose of the mixture in the trash as close to pick-up day as possible.

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LIQUIDS 2c -Purchase and use a drug destruction product.

Purchase and use a drug destruction product.

This factsheet from OSU Extension gives an overview of available products.

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INHALERS

Do you have unwanted or expired medication in an inhaler?

Find a local take-back program.

If your local take-back program does not accept inhaler medication, dispose of unwanted or expired medication at a hazardous waste facility.

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INHALERS 1 - Find a local take-back program.

Find a local take-back program.

Check to see if your local take-back program accepts inhalers. Many pharmacies accept empty inhalers.
If your local take-back program accepts inhaler medications, keep them in their original container.
Black out any personal identifying information. Leave the medication type and dosage information if possible.
Drop off your medications in the provided container.

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INHALERS 2 - If your local take-back program does not accept inhaler medication, dispose of unwanted or expired medication at a hazardous waste facility.

If your local take-back program does not accept inhaler medication, dispose of unwanted or expired medication at a hazardous waste facility.

Do not dispose of inhalers in the trash as the pressurized contents can cause harm.
Other options for disposal may include the local health department, police or fire department, pharmacies, and trash and recycling facilities. Please contact the facility before visiting. Verify if they accept inhalers, as well as any procedures for disposal.

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SHARPS

Do you have unwanted or expired medication that use auto-injectors, needles, syringes, lancets, or other sharp points or edges that can puncture or cut skin?

Find a local take-back program.

Dispose of sharps immediately after use at home in a sharps disposal container.

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SHARPS 1 - Find a local take-back program.

Find a local take-back program.

If your local take-back program also accepts sharps, dispose of them in the separate container provided.
- Black out any personal identifying information. Leave the medication type and dosage information if possible.
Other options for disposal may include the local health department, police or fire department, pharmacies, and trash and recycling facilities. Please contact the facility before visiting. Verify if they accept sharps, as well as any procedures for disposal.
Visit safeneedledisposal.org to search by state to find where you can take these for disposal.

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SHARPS 2 - Dispose of sharps immediately after use at home in a sharps disposal container.

Dispose of sharps immediately after use at home in a sharps disposal container.

FDA-approved sharps containers are generally available through pharmacies, health care providers, medical supply companies, or online. These containers are made of puncture-resistant plastic with leak-resistant walls and sides with a tight-fitting seal.
1. Black out any personal identifying information. Leave the medication type and dosage information if possible.
2. Follow the instructions on your container. The purchase price of some containers includes shipping back to the disposal facility, while others are just disposed in the household trash.
You may also use a heavy-duty plastic container such as a laundry detergent to store sharps until proper disposal.

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DERMAL PATCHES

Do you have unwanted or expired medication in the form of a transdermal patch?

Find a local take-back program.

If your local take-back program does not accept transdermal patches, use an alternative.

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DERMAL PATCHES 1 - Find a local take-back program.

Find a local take-back program.

If your local take-back program accepts transdermal patch medications, fold the sticky sides together and place into a sealable container.
Black out any personal identifying information. Leave the medication type and dosage information if possible.
Drop off your medications in the provided container.

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DERMAL PATCHES 2- If your local take-back program does not accept transdermal patches, use an alternative.

If your local take-back program does not accept transdermal patches, use an alternative.

Request or purchase a medication disposal envelope from your pharmacy.

Dispose of unwanted or expired medication in the trash.

Purchase and use a drug destruction product.

This field is hidden when viewing the form

DERMAL PATCHES 2a- Request or purchase a medication disposal envelope from your pharmacy.

Request or purchase a medication disposal envelope from your pharmacy.

This area need content.

This field is hidden when viewing the form

DERMAL PATCHES 2b- Dispose of unwanted or expired medication in the trash.

Dispose of unwanted or expired medication in the trash.

Fold patches in half and place in a sealable bag.
Black out any personal identifying information. Leave the medication type and dosage information if possible.
Add a safe but unpalatable substance such as kitty litter, dish/laundry soap, used coffee grounds, or dirt to the medication container and then seal it.
Seal the medicine in a leak-proof container such as a coffee can.
Dispose of the mixture in the trash as close to pick-up day as possible.

This field is hidden when viewing the form

DERMAL PATCHES 2c- Purchase and use a drug destruction product.

Purchase and use a drug destruction product.

This factsheet from OSU Extension gives an overview of available products.

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Unwanted Meds
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