Pharmaceuticals

Don't Flush Your Drugs!

"Disposal of pharmaceuticals down a toilet or drain has become a serious public concern. Wastewater treatment facilities are not equipped to remove all traces of pharmaceutical chemicals. If you flush your drugs, a portion of those contaminants will reach local waters. Estrogen, steroids, chemotherapy medications are among the most common pharmaceuticals found in waterways where treated wastewater is discharged. These drugs may be harmful to aquatic life."

Central Sanitary District's Pipeline newsletter.

You may bring your pharmaceuticals to drop-off points throughout the county.
If you are unable to do so, please do the following:

  1. Take medications out of original containers. Remove prescription information from containers before discarding.
  2. Crush pills or dissolve them in water to prevent children or pets from accessing them. Dilute liquid medications. Mix the medications with coffee grounds or kitty litter.
  3. Seal in a plastic bag or empty container.
  4. Throw in the garbage.
  5. If there are syringes or needles with the medication do not throw them in the garbage; please visit the sharps page for information on proper disposal.
  6. Do not dispose of syringes or needles in pharmaceutical boxes.
CENTRAL COUNTY

County Hospital
Sheriff's Substation
2500 Alhambra Ave
Martinez, CA 94553
M-F, 8am - 5pm

Sheriff's Field Operations Building
1980 Muir Rd
Martinez, CA 94553
M-F, 8am - 5pm

Walnut Creek City Hall
1666 North Main St
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
M-F, 8am - 5pm

 EAST COUNTY

Delta Diablo HHW Facility
2500 Pittsburg-Antioch Highway
Antioch, CA 94509
(925) 756-1990
www.ddsd.org
Thursday - Saturday, 9am - 4pm

 SOLANO COUNTY

Napa-Vallejo HHW Facility*
889A Devlin Rd
American Canyon, CA
1-800-984-9661
Friday- Saturday, 9am - 4pm
*no longer accepts drop-offs
  from Benicia residents.
See Solano County for take back events
 
For all drop off locations:
  • Discard pill bottles & prescription information to ensure privacy.
  • Pour pills into a plastic bag
  • Liquid medications should be placed in sealed Ziploc bags

 

There are now several more locations for Pharmaceutical drop off in Central Contra Costa:

  • City of Clayton, Police Department, City Hall 6000 Heritage Trail, Clayton
  • City of Concord, Police Department 1350 Galindo Street, Concord
  • Contra Costa Sheriff's Field Operations Building 1980 Muir Road, Martinez
  • County Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave., Martinez
  • Town of Danville, Police Department 510 La Gonda Way, Danville
  • City of Martinez, Police Department, City Hall 525 Henrietta Street, Martinez
  • Town of Moraga, Police Department 329 Rheem Blvd., Moraga
  • City of Orinda, Police Department, City Hal l22 Orinda Way, Orinda
  • City of Pleasant Hill, Police Department 330 Civic Dr., Pleasant Hill
  • City of San Ramon, Main Police Station 2401 Crow Canyon Road San Ramon, CA 94583
  • City of Walnut Creek, Police Department, City Hall 1666 North Main St., Walnut Creek