Why should I safely dispose of my expired prescription and over-the-counter medications?

Because wastewater treatment plants were never designed to remove medications or other chemicals, and flushing your expired over-the-counter and prescription medications can harm aquatic life in the San Francisco Bay and Pacific Ocean.

Why isn't there a permanent drop-off location in San Francisco for old/expired medication?

Unfortunately, at this time, the options available to residents for disposing of medication through permanent take-back programs or one-day collection events are limited due to several regulatory and cost issues.  Current State and Federal regulations make it difficult for pharmacies to set up take-back programs and for the City and County of San Francisco to establish permanent collection sites.

In the interim, the SFPUC does hold one-time collection events on occasion, as we have at our Big Blue Bucket Eco-Fair Event at our Southeast Treatment Plant (advertised in the Currents Newsletter that goes with our water bills and with ads in local papers).  We are also currently working with other City departments, State, and Federal regulators, and staff of the Mayor's Office to try and change the regulatory barriers to establishing more permanent locations for residents.

Where can I safely dispose of my medications?

Here are some places that currently accept old/expired over-the-counter and prescription medications. Please contact them for more information:

Recycled AIDS Medicine Program (RAMP) – RAMP accepts unused AIDS and HIV medications.
Immune Enhancement Project 3450 16th Street San Francisco, CA  94114 415-252-8711 Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM Medications may be mailed	Tenderloin Health 255 Golden Gate Avenue San Francisco, CA 94102 415-437-2900 Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM Closed Wednesday, 12 noon – 1:00 PM
San Francisco LGBT Center 1800 Market Street San Francisco, Monday – Friday, 12 Noon – 10:00 PM Saturday 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM 415-865-5555	Quan Yin Healing Arts Center 455 Valencia Street, San Francisco Tuesday – Friday, 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM Saturday 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM 415-861-4964
BioScrip Pharmacy 2262 Market Street San Francisco, CA  94114 415-255-0101  Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM

• Costco - Take back limited to expired Costco prescriptions only.

        450 10th Street
        San Francisco, CA 94103
        415-626-4341 

• SF Medicine Mail-in Program - For San Francisco residents only.  For San Francisco residents only.  Not a drop off location.  Please call for a medicine envelope to be mailed to your home. They are pre-paid and can be placed in the mailbox when full.  Call 415-330-1405 or visit http://tinyurl.com/sf-med-pgm for more information.

• Green Dentistry - Please no narcotics, controlled substances or needles/sharps. 

        360 Post Street
        San Francisco, CA 94108
        415-433-0119

• Visit http://earth911.com/ - Viste website, enter "medication" and your Zip Code to find a take back location near you.

Remember, Mercury filled fever thermometers are also considered a hazardous waste
and should never be disposed of in the trash or toilet!

For more information about pharmaceuticals and other chemicals and the potential health risks associated with each of them, visit our website by clicking on the following link:

http://sfwater.org/detail.cfm/MC_ID/13/MSC_ID/166/MTO_ID/298/C_ID/655#Pharmaceuticals