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- Medication and Medical Sharps Disposal
Medication and Medical Sharps Disposal
Protect your family and the environment by making sure medications and medical sharps are properly handled, stored, and disposed of.
- Medications have been detected in rivers, waterways, and groundwater. Wastewater treatment facilities are not equipped to filter out these chemicals, so they may show up in drinking water.
- Many children are accidentally poisoned each year by items found in the home. Studies also show that individuals who abuse prescription drugs often get the medications from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.
- Medical sharps, including needles, syringes, and disposable lancets are dangerous in household trash.
Medication Disposal Network
Medication take-back is the safest option for medication and medical sharps disposal.
Washtenaw County’s Medication Disposal Network shows where to dispose of expired and unwanted medications and medical sharps- for free! The medication takeback disposal network includes pharmacies and law enforcement locations.
Click the button below to view the Medication Disposal Network Map. This map includes information on what products are (and are not) accepted, how to package your items, and where the drop-off point within the location is.
To help ensure you are not turned away, please verify that a location is operating and can take your items prior to arrival.
Pharamacy location information
The items below are usually accepted at participating pharmacies. If you have items that are not prescription or over-the-counter pills, check ahead to confirm prior to arrival.
Acceptable Materials | Unacceptable Materials |
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Big Red Barrel Location Information
The "Big Red Barrel" program invites people to safely dispose of prescription or over-the-counter pills. Controlled substances like OxyContin, Vicodin, and Percocet are disposed of for FREE. This program is a partnership with local law enforcement agencies.
Pills ONLY accepted at Big Red Barrel locations – NO LIQUIDS, NO SYRINGES.
Medical Sharps
Medical sharps are needles, syringes with attached needles, and disposable lancets. Although it is legal to place household needles and sharps containers in the trash it is not the safest option.
Disposal Guidelines
Step 1 - Purchase a medical sharps container from a pharmacy. These containers are puncture-resistant and can hold 30-300 used sharps, depending on the container size. Keep the container stored safely away from children and pets.
Step 2- Place used sharps in the sharps container immediately after use. When the container is full, tape the container shut.
Step 3- Take the full container to a disposal location.
Additional Resources
- If you are unable to utilize a take-back location, please review these guidelines from Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE).
- Other Medication Take-Back Programs
- State Police Take-Back Program: visit the Michigan State Police Post web page.
- Statewide - view EGLE's Household Drug Take Back Map
- Chemotherapy Medication
- ERG Environmental Services - (734) 437-9650
Poison Control
Poison Control Website
Phone: 800-222-1222
Contact Us
-
Water Resources Commissioner’s Office
& Public Works
705 N Zeeb Road
Ann Arbor, MI
48103
734-222-6860
Email Us