Read local stories about how and why communities throughout California are disposing of unused medications:
High Desert (San Bernardino-Riverside)Los Angeles & Ventura
Central Valley (Sacramento)
North Coast (Mendocino)
Orange County
North Central (Chico/Butte)
Rural Mountains (Sierra Nevada)
San Diego
South Central (Fresno Valley)
What should you do with unwanted medications?
Don’t flush, don’t recycle. don’t put them in the trash.
Dispose of them the safe, environmentally correct way: In a med-bin!
How does it work? Easy as 1-2-3.
1. Keep medications in their child-proof container until just prior to drop off. Then, remove pills and other solid medications from their containers and consolidate them in a clear plastic zipper bag. Keep liquid and cream medication tightly sealed in their original containers.
2. Remove, mark out, or otherwise obscure personal information from all medication containers to protect your personal information. Recycle solid medication containers in your household recycling.
3. Bring zipper bag and any liquids/creams to a Don’t Rush to Flush location and place in the bin – It’s that easy!
Where do I find a bin?
Type in your address here to find a bin near you.
What can I put in the bin?
- Prescription medications: Only certain locations accept Schedule II to V Controlled Substance medications. Please check the bin locations map for information about what types of medications each site can accept.
- Over-the-counter medications
- Medicated ointments and lotions: Leave tightly sealed in original containers.
- Pet medications
- Liquid prescriptions: Must be 6 oz. or less and in sealed bottles.
What can't I put in the bin?
- Illegal (Schedule I) Controlled Substances, for example: marijuana, heroin, LSD, etc.
- Medical Sharps and Needles: Hypodermic needles, syringes, auto injectors, infusion sets, connection needles/sets, and lancets.
- Auto-injectors, for example: EpiPen®.
- Iodine-containing medications
- Thermometers
- Radiopharmaceuticals
- Chemotherapy or cytotoxic medications
- Compressed cylinders or aerosols, for example: asthma inhalers. But: Check signage on the med bin and local rules of the disposal/incinerator operator as they may allow inhalers to be put into bins.
- Vitamins and dietary supplements
- Business medical waste such as: Company representative’s product samples, waste from hospitals, clinics, and doctor’s, dentist’s, and veterinarian’s practices.
About CPSC
This program is a joint project of the California Department of Health Care Services and California Product Stewardship Council. For more info, email info@calpsc.org or call 916.706.3420.
