Medication & Sharp Disposal

Unused medications and home-generated sharps require special disposal for the safety of residents and the enviroment. These items are strictly regulated by CalRecycle and there are free, safe options to dispose of both. 

Home healthcare waste, like soiled bandages, gauze, dressings, masks, tubing  etc, are garbage. To check on how to dispose of medical waste and devices, use our Waste Wizard

Prescription medicine bottles one is tipped over with blue capsules spilling out open_in_full

Unused medications

Proper disposal of unused prescription and over-the-counter medications will keep them from being misused and out of the waterways. Medication should never be flushed down the the toilet or put in city curbside containers. The California Med-project accepts prescription and over-the-counter medication at drop boxes located at most pharmacies. Check out the information on medications are accepted in the program and convenient drop-off locations in Sacramento. 

Medication is not accepted at any Household Hazardous Waste Facilities.

Sharps are not allowed in City curbside containers

Home-generated sharps include hypodermic needles, pen needles, intravenous needles, lancets, and other devices that are used to penetrate the skin for the delivery of medications that you use in your home. Such sharps are not permitted in city garbage or recycling containers. 

Sharps need to be put in an Approved Sharps Container and disposed using a free Mail It Back program or HHW Drop-off options. 

red plastic sharp container with syringe on top of the open container open_in_full

Mail it back for free

Californians can take advantage of a free and confidential program to mail sharps back. Order a sharps mail back package at sharpstakebackcalifornia.org or call 1-844-482-5322. 

 

Drop-off at local HHW facility

Sharps are accepted for drop off at local Household Hazardous Waste Facilities.  

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