QUICK LINKS

What About Things Like:

Medications

OPTIONS:

Most medications can be disposed of in the trash. However, it is important to take proper steps to prevent accidental ingestion when disposing of medication. Click here to learn about how to safely monitor, secure and destroy your medications. Empty plastic medication bottles can be placed in your home recycle bin.

Medication Drop Box Locations

There are several pharmacies and other medication drop box locations throughout the County that will take medications. Check here for a list. 

Trash Hauler

Check if your city trash hauler provides safe medication disposal services.

OC Sheriff's Prescription Drug Disposal Locations

Check here for additional locations to take your prescription medications. Ask your City police department and Sherriff's departments for National Prescription Drug Take Back days hosted throughout the year.

Sharps

California law prohibits disposal of home-generated sharps waste in the trash or recycling containers and requires that all sharps waste be disposed of safely. Residents may dispose of secured sharps at OC's Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers. See additional resources below.

Environmental Protection Agency - Safe needle disposal information  

City Recycling Coordinators - Check for safe sharps programs specific to your city 

Mail Back Services - See a list of approved services by the California Department of Public Health 

Drug Enforcement Agency Take Back Day - Find a collection site or Take Back Day near you

* Please note that some external links provide information that is not managed nor updated by OC Waste & Recycling.  You may contact those sites directly with any questions, requests or updates. We will routinely monitor external sites linked from our pages.