Safe Medication Return

Safe Medication Return is free, convenient, safe, and environmentally responsible

Washington’s Safe Medication Return lets people dispose of household over-the-counter, and prescription medications for people and pets.

Safe Medication Return is not for business-generated pharmaceutical waste. If you are a business, please visit the Department of Ecology Pharmaceutical Waste website for more information.

It's important to store and dispose of medication safely

Storing medication securely and making sure expired and unneeded medication is disposed of safely, helps prevent poisonings, overdoses, and suicide attempts. Safely disposing of medication also keeps it out of our environment which helps protect our water and soil.

There are several ways to safely dispose of your household medications

You can find locations and order supplies at medtakebackwashington.org or 844-4-TakeBack (844-482-5322), TTY 711.

All services are free. You do not need to provide identification.

1. Return it at a drop-off location kiosk 

  • You do not need to request assistance. You should be able to open the kiosk drop-slot and deposit your medication.
  • Kiosks cannot accept sharps. Sharps that contain medication can be returned using a free medication return mailer as described below.

2. Return it using free, prepaid, preaddressed mailers.

  • Inhaler mailers are for returning inhalers.
  • Injector mailers are for returning sharps that contain medication. This includes autoinjectors.
  • Medicine mailers are for returning all other medication. Do not return inhalers or sharps in medicine mailers.

You can pick up as many mailers as you need at mailer distributors.

You can also order as many mailers as you need online or at 844-4-TakeBack. You can order up to three of the same type of mailer per request and can submit as many requests as you need. You must provide a first and last name and the address you want the mailers shipped to.

3. Take-back events may also be held in some areas of the state. You can bring your unused or unwanted medication to these events.

Medication can be returned in an original container or a sealed bag

Please return liquid medication in the original container or a securely sealed container. Sharps must be securely capped. Other medication can be mixed in an original container or sealed bag.

If you put your medication in a sealed bag, please recycle the original containers, when possible. (Check with your local solid waste program.)

Please remove personal or identifying information from any containers you return. This helps us protect your personal information.

This program is for household over-the-counter and prescription medication for people and pets

This includes liquids, ointments, pills, capsules, powders, patches, and any other form of medication.

We accept:

  • all prescription medication, including controlled substances such as OxyContin and Ritalin, and at-home chemotherapy medication.
  • medical devices that contain medication, including inhalers and sharps.
  • all over-the-counter medication.

We cannot accept:

  • illicit or illegal drugs (contact your local law enforcement agency for disposal assistance. In many areas you can do this by calling 311).
  • vitamins, minerals, and supplements.
  • homeopathic and herbal-based remedies.
  • cannabis products
  • personal care products like cosmetics, shampoo, toothpaste, and sunscreen.
  • medical devices that do not contain any medication.
  • exposed sharps
  • livestock medication.
  • pet pesticide products.
  • business generated pharmaceutical waste
More Safe Medication Return information

Laws, funding, and oversight - Includes information about manufacturer and wholesaler requirements.

Program operations - Includes information on becoming an authorized collector (hosting a kiosk), providing mailers, hosting take-back events, and becoming a new program operator.

Program plans and reports

Free promotional material is available from our program operators Inmar and MED-Project. The department also offers free promotional material.

Medtakebackwashington.org and 844-4-TakeBack (TTY 711) let you find drop-off kiosks, order free mailers, and more. These one-stop resources are jointly owned and operated by MED-Project and Inmar.

Related resources

Managing business-generated pharmaceutical waste (Department of Ecology)

Recycling or disposing of other household products (Department of Ecology)

Disposing of illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia — contact your local law enforcement agency. In many areas you can call 311 to do this.

Healthy home guide (Department of Ecology)

Healthy Home (Department of Health)

Drug User Health (Department of Health)

Suicide Prevention (Department of Health)

Prescription drug and opioid misuse information from Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA)

Washington Tracking Network (data) (Department of Health)

Washington Poison Center (800-222-1122)

Questions, concerns or complaints?

Contact the Department of Health by email or call 360-236-4698 if you have questions, concerns, or complaints about oversight, enforcement, and program compliance.

Contact one of the state-approved program operators with questions, concerns, or complaints about kiosks, mailers, and take-back events.

Sign up for GovDelivery to receive notifications regarding Safe Medication Return rule making and proposal review. Choose subscription topic “Safe Medication Return” topic under “Health Systems Quality Assurance (HSQA), Health Professions.”