How do I safely dispose of medications I don’t need?
The MTM Program is dedicated to providing you with information about safe medication disposal.
Medications that are safe for you may not be safe for someone else.
Unneeded medications should be disposed of as soon as possible.
You can discard your unneeded medications through a local safe disposal program or at home for some medications.
1. Locating a community safe drug disposal site—A drug take back site is the best way to safely dispose of medications. To find drug take back sites near you, visit the website below and enter your location:
DEA Drug Disposal Search
Additionally, some pharmacies and police stations offer on-site drop-off boxes, mail-back programs, and other ways for safe disposal. Call your pharmacy or local police department (non-emergency number) for disposal options near you.
2. Mailing medications to accepting drug disposal sites—Medications may be mailed to authorized sites using approved packages.
Information on mail-back sites can be found at DEATakeBack.com.
3. Safe at-home medication disposal—You can safely dispose of many medications through the trash or by flushing them down the toilet.
Visit the following website first to learn what medications are safe to dispose of at home: HHS Safe Disposal Guidelines
Steps for medication disposal in the trash:
- Remove medication labels to protect your personal information
- Mix medications with undesirable substances, such as dirt or used coffee grounds
- Place mixture in a sealed container, such as an empty margarine tub