Properly Dispose of Expired or Unwanted Medicines
Medicine Mail-Back Services
Mail-Back Services for expired or unwanted medicines are available, free of charge, to all residents upon request. Mail-Back Distribution Locations may also be available in your area. Medications in any dosage form, except for those identified as Not Accepted below, in their original container or sealed bag are accepted.
Note: The following items are not accepted Medicine Mail-Back Envelopes: Herbal remedies, vitamins, supplements, cosmetics, other personal care products, medical devices, batteries, mercury-containing thermometers, sharps, illicit drugs, pet pesticide products, and inhalers.
If transferring medications to a sealed bag, please be sure to recycle the remaining packaging.
To request a pre-paid, pre-addressed mail-back package
Visit Med-Project.org and complete the form at the bottom of the page. You will also receive instructions for disposal. Please submit separate forms for each type of mail-back package.
Inhaler Mail-Back Services
Mail-Back Services for inhalers are available, free of charge, to all residents upon request.
NOTE: Only place undamaged inhalers in their original containers in the Inhaler Mail-Back Package. Inhaler Mail-Back Packages can only be used for inhalers and cannot accept other types of items.
To request a pre-paid, pre-addressed mail-back package
Visit Med-Project.org and complete the form at the bottom of the page. You will also receive instructions for disposal. Please submit separate forms for each type of mail-back package.
Sharps Mail-Back Services
Mail-Back Services for sharps are available to all residents upon request. Sharps (such as hypodermic needles, pen needles, pre-loaded sharps, auto-injectors, intravenous needles, lancets, and other devices used to penetrate the skin for drawing blood, or for the delivery of medicines) contained in U.S. Food and Drug Administration-cleared sharps containers are accepted.
NOTE: The following are not accepted in Sharps Mail-Back Package: Controlled substances, unwanted medicines not contained in sharps, and lose sharps that are not contained in U.S. Food and Drug Administration-cleared sharps containers.
All sharps disposal containers should be made of heavy-duty plastic; able to close with a tight-fitting, puncture-resistant lid without sharps being able to come out; upright and stable during use; leak-resistant; and properly labeled as “sharps waste” or with the biohazard symbol and the word “BIOHAZARD” to warn of hazardous materials inside the container.
To request a pre-paid, pre-addressed mail-back package
Visit Med-Project.org and complete the form at the bottom of the page. You will also receive instructions for disposal. Please submit separate forms for each type of mail-back package.
To view this information in Spanish, click here.
- Medicines help treat diseases, manage chronic conditions, and improve health and well-being for millions of Americans. It is important that patients take their medicines as prescribed by their health care provider and as indicated on the label or packaging. It is also important to be sure to store medicines securely to prevent accidental ingestion or misuse by others, especially children.
- There are a number of ways to dispose of expired or unwanted medicines. To protect your privacy, patients are reminded to remove all personally identifiable information on medication labels or packaging before disposing of unwanted medicines.
For additional information on the program:
MED-Project has developed an educational toolkit that includes the materials below.
Brochure – Medicine & Sharps Program
Information Sheet – Sharps Program
Frequently Asked Questions
Radio Public Service Announcement (PSA) – Medicine & Sharps Program
Video Public Service Announcement (PSA) – Medicine & Sharps Program
If you would like any of these materials emailed to you, contact sanluisobispocounty@med-project.org.
For this information in Spanish, please click here.