Safely Dispose of Unwanted Household Medications

Don’t flush your drugs!

Flushing unwanted and expired medications down the toilet is the least desirable of all disposal alternatives. Wastewater treatment facilities are not equipped to remove all traces of pharmaceutical chemicals. If you flush your drugs, a portion of those contaminants will reach local waters. Scientific studies show the chemicals in many drugs can harm aquatic life. Proper disposal of unwanted medications helps protect your family, your community and the environment.

The best way to dispose of your unwanted or expired household medicine and/or prescription drugs is at a hazardous waste facility, drop-off or take-back program.

Kaiser and CVS/Pharmacy Locations

Please call ahead for drop-off hours.

• KAISER Pharmacy
  1301 Pinole Valley Rd 1st Floor, Pinole, CA 94564 – (510) 243-4311

• KAISER Richmond Hospital Main Pharmacy
  901 Nevin Avenue, Richmond, CA 94801 – (510) 307-3160

• CVS/Pharmacy
  2655 Telegraph Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704 – (510) 549-9063

• CVS/Pharmacy
  1451 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709 – (510) 849-0484

• CVS/Pharmacy
  1382 Solano Ave, Albany, CA 94706 – (510) 559-3414

• CVS/Pharmacy
  1057 Eastshore Hwy, Albany, CA 94710 – (510) 982-0513

• CVS/Pharmacy 
  2151 Meeker Ave, Richmond, CA 94804 – (510) 231-5922

• CVS/Pharmacy
  10650 San Pablo Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530 – (510) 527-3210

• CVS/Pharmacy
  670 El Cerrito Plaza, El Cerrito, CA 94530 – (510) 524-5895

Most pharmacies issuing prescriptions will take back Sharps, old medications, etc. at no charge.
Contact your medical provider or pharmacy.

*For additional locations visit: https://med-project.org/locations/contra-costa/convenient-kiosks/

West Contra Costa residents may drop-off unwanted or expired medicine for free at the below listed locations.

Drop Off Locations in West Contra Costa

• West County Wastewater District Office:
  2910 Hilltop Drive, Richmond
  Lobby hours: 8am – 5pm, Mon–Fri  (closed 12 – 1pm)

• El Cerrito Recycling + Environmental Resource Center:
  7501 Schmidt Lane, El Cerrito
  8am–5pm, Mon–Fri, 9am–4:45pm &  Sat–Sun

• West County HHW Collection Facility
  101 Pittsburg Avenue, Richmond;
  Wed-Sat: 9am – 4pm  (closed 12-12:30pm)

Please follow these directions for drop-off:

1. Keep medicine/pharmaceuticals in original container; or place in zipper plastic bag and indicate contents
2. Leave the drug name intact. Black out personal information, including names, prescription numbers and doctor’s name.
    

Where and How Do I Dispose of Pharmaceuticals?

To find disposal drop-off locations or obtain mail-back supplies, visit medtakebackcalifornia.org or call (844) 4-TAKE-BACK or (844) 482-5322. For more information, visit the CalRecycle Pharmaceutical Drug Waste page.

NOTE: No controlled substances will be accepted at the HHW collection facility or in the drop-off bins.

It is illegal for collection facilities to accept certain prescription medications known as “controlled substances”. These are drugs that have a potential for addiction and/or abuse such as narcotics and tranquilizers. Common controlled substances include codeine, phenobarbitol, and anabolic steroids.

Information on controlled substances disposal is provided by the DEA Call Center – call (800) 882-9539. The DEA Sponsors a National Prescription Drug Take Back Day twice a year (usually in April and October).

For a complete list of controlled substances visit the Federal DEA list of controlled substances.

For more information regarding Drug Disposal visit RecycleMore