If you use prescription medications you’re not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2016 nearly 50% of adults in the US reported using prescription medications in the past 30 days. This number only increases with age; 18% of children under age 12 reported using prescription medications versus 85% of adults aged 60 and older. With all these medications being prescribed, it begs the question: how can we safely dispose of our medications?
Prescription Bottle Recycling
- Some Whole Foods stores recycle prescription bottles (call ahead)
- Matthew 25: Ministries allows donations of prescription bottles by mail (Located in Ohio)
Note: Bottles should be rinsed, and the stickers removed. Blister packs cannot be recycled and should be thrown in the trash.
Prescription Take Back Sites
- Click here for a list of commonly accepted medications
- List of pharmacies that what they accept for take back
- Click here for a list of non-pharmacy take back sites
- Click here to find take back sites near you (Please note that this does lead to the DEA website)
- Click here to search the Medication Disposal Network for a location near you in Washtenaw County
- Click here for a searchable map of takeback sites in Michigan
Big Red Barrel Program
- The Big Red Barrel Program allows residents to safely and legally dispose of medication. Click here for more information, including a list of Big Red Barrel sites in Washtenaw County.
Disposal Events
- Every so often a pharmacy or other agency will hold a medication take back event.
- National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is October 22, 2022
- Call your local pharmacy for more information
Safely Disposing of Medication
- Click here for tips from the Washtenaw County Drain Commissioner’s Office
- Click here for a flyer from the State of Michigan
- Click here to learn about safely storing and disposing of sharps/needles
Flushing Medications
- If medications could be harmful to other members of your household, it may be safest to flush them immediately instead of waiting for a takeback event.
- Click here to see the FDA’s Flush List
