Disposal Sites & Events

DEA National Take Back Initiative

The federal DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) has held “National Prescription Drug Take Back Days” for all homeowners. The next event will be held on April 27, 2013 at various locations around Florida. Please visit this website for more information and to learn of any drop off locations near you: http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/index.html.

Local Drop-offs

 

Alachua County
For locations and operation times of permanent collection sites and directions on what is accepted:
http://www.alachuacounty.us/Depts/EPD/hwc/Pages/HazardousWasteCollection.aspx

 

Brevard County
The Prescription Drug Take-Back Initiative
Citizens of Brevard County can drop off medications at any of the BCSO precincts.
Find addresses here:
http://www.brevardsheriff.com/precincts.php

 

Broward County
Visit this web site for information about upcoming unwanted medication collection events.
http://www.sheriff.org/safety/operation_medicine_cabinet/flyer.pdf

 

Citrus County
Permanent Drop Box Location:

Citrus County Sheriff’s
1 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Avenue
Inverness, FL 34450-4994

Snyder’s Drug Store
102 E. Highland Blvd.
Inverness, FL 34452

 

Charlotte County
Permanent Drop Box Locations:

Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office District 1
6868 San Casa Dr., Englewood

Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office District 4
3280 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte

Punta Gorda Fire Department
1410 Tamiami Trail, Punta Gorda

 

Collier County
http://www.colliergov.net/Index.aspx?page=1861
Bring your expired, unused, or unwanted medication to the Naples Recycling Center and the Solid Waste Management Department will ensure that it is disposed of properly. No controlled substances can be accepted. Simply place your medications still in original container (black out your name from label, but leave name of medication on label) into the pharmaceutical disposal container at the recycling center.

Marco Island Recycling Drop-Off Center
990 Chalmer Drive (corner of Chalmer Drive and East Elkcam Circle)
Phone: 239-252-5153
Open Tuesday – Saturday 8:30 -11am, 12:00 – 4:30pm

Naples Recycling Drop-Off Center
2640 Enterprise Ave. West (off Airport Road on north side of Naples Airport)
Phone: 239-643-3099
Open Tuesday through Saturday 8:30am - 4:30pm.

North Collier Recycling Drop-Off Center
9950 Goodlette Frank Road North
Phone: 239-252-8617
Open Tuesday – Saturday 8:30 -11am, 12:00 – 4:30pm

 

DeSoto County
DeSoto County Sheriff's Office
208 E. Cypress St. Arcadia, FL 34266
(863)993-4700 x 2254

 

Duval County
Permanent Drop Box Location:

Jacksonville Sheriff's Office
Forsyth Street entrance of the Police Memorial Building at North Washington Street next to the jail. 24 Hours a day.

Read more at Jacksonville.com:
http://jacksonville.com/community/mandarin/2012-01-24/story/drug-drop-box-available-jacksonville-sheriffs-office-get-rid#ixzz2IFpqf1qP

 

Franklin County
Franklin County Landfill accepts and incinerates all pharmaceuticals.

Franklin County Solid Waste
210 Highway 65
Eastpoint, FL 32328

 

Hendry County
Hendry County hosts a collection event called Operation Medicine Cabinet. Details of upcoming events can be found at:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Drug-Free-Hendry-County/113158678755944

 

Hernando County
http://www.co.hernando.fl.us/utils/SolidWaste_Recycling/householdHW.htm
Residents are allowed to bring their unwanted medications to the any of the three following Solid Waste & Recycling locations. Residents must pour their own medication into a funnel, and take the empty medication bottles with them.

Northwest Solid Waste Facility
14450 Landfill Rd
Brooksville, FL 34614

West Hernando Convenience Center
2525 Osowaw Blvd
Spring Hill, FL 34607

East Hernando Convenience Center
33070 Cortez Blvd
Ridge Manor, FL 33523

 

Highlands County
Permanent Drop Box Locations:

Sebring Police Department
307 North Ridgewood Drive
Sebring, FL 33870-7206
M - F 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM excluding holidays

Lake Placid Police Department
8 North Oak Avenue
Lake Placid, FL 33852

Avon Park Police Department
1535 State Road 64 West Suite 101
Avon Park, FL

 

Indian River County
The Sheriff’s Office provides this service at 4055 41st Avenue, Vero Beach. See this website for more information: http://www.myirchd.org/ClinicsandServices/Medication_Disposal.html

 

Lake County
www.Tavares.org
Tavares, Florida has established a “Don’t Flush” campaign that resulted in an overflow of unused medications being turned into the Tavares Police. It’s not unusual for the collection box to be filled to capacity several times a day. The low cost campaign consisted of 50 posters and 2,000 bookmarks. The posters were supplied to local doctors and other medical providers. Bookmarks are distributed to our local library and to doctor’s offices. A City staff member, when available, will stop by nursing homes and assisted living facilities to drop off a supply of bookmarks or to informally speak to staff members about the program. The campaign was initiated by our Water Department and our message emphasizes the harm these pills can do to our water supply and our local wildlife if disposed of by flushing or pouring them down the drain.

 

Lee County
The Sheriff’s Office provides this service at any of their five district lobbies, Monday – Friday from 7:30 – 5:30. No syringes please. Go here to find directions to the district offices:
http://www.sheriffleefl.org/main/index.php?r=site/about&cid=18

 

Leon County
City of Tallahassee: Tallahassee Police Department, 234 E. Seventh Ave. has an anonymous permanent disposal bin in the lobby. No liquids or sharps please.

 

Manatee County
See this web site for more information:
http://www.chip4health.org/saferx/

 

Marion County
http://www.marioncountyfl.org/SolidWaste/Divisions_HazardousWastes_AcceptableItems.aspx

 

Martin County
Permanent Drop Box Location:

Martin County Sheriff’s Office
800 Southeast Monterey Road
Stuart, FL

 

Monroe County
County-wide, citizens may bring no-longer-needed prescription drugs and other medications in for disposal, or call and someone will pick the medications up for disposal. Please leave the medicine in its original container:

• In the Upper Keys, medications will be accepted at the Plantation Key Substation Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. or at the Murray Nelson building in Key Largo on Wednesdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. For pickup, call 305-853-3211 during office hours.
• In the Middle Keys, the Marathon Substation will accept any medications Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For pickup, call 305-289-2430 during office hours.
• In the Lower Keys, citizens can drop off medications at the Freeman Substation on Cudjoe Key Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or call 305-745-3184 for pickup.

 

Okaloosa County Sheriff Larry Ashley has set up a program in Okaloosa County that allows the public to drop off unwanted, unused, or expired prescription drugs at the OCSO offices during regular business hours Monday through Friday.

The addresses of those district offices are:
Shalimar: Shalimar Courthouse Annex, 1250 Eglin Parkway
Crestview: OCSO North End District Office, 296 Brackin St.
Destin: Destin Substation 107, Stahlman Ave.

 

Palm Beach County
“Operation Pill Drop” has several drop-off sites listed here:
http://www.swa.org/site/hhw/haz_waste_home/hhw_home_rev1.htm

 

Pasco County
Permanent Drop Box Locations:

Sheriff’s Offices road patrol district headquarters in:
Dade City (34609 State Road 52),
New Port Richey (7432 Little Road),
Trinity (11530 Trinity Boulevard).

 

Pinellas County
Pinellas County has three permanent drop-off locations for residents to use for unwanted or expired medicines. Local law enforcement periodically sponsors take back events throughout the county. The County's website, www.pinellascounty.org/utilities/getridofit/medications.pdf offers up-to date information and suggestions for residents and businesses regarding safe disposal of medicine. The Division of Solid Waste and the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office are partnering to further this message via pharmacies by placing information on their counters to educate the public regarding the problem and to promote safe disposal. This awareness campaign is currently being expanded to include funeral homes.

Dunedin: Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
North District
737 Loudon Ave.
(727) 582-6900
7 a.m. to 11 p.m./7 days

Largo: Pinellas County Sherriff's Office Administration
10750 Ulmerton Rd.
(727) 582-6200
7 a.m. to 11 p.m./7 days

Treasure Island: Police Dept.
180 108th Ave.
(727) 547-4595
24 hours/7 days

 

Polk County, City of Winter Haven Police Department
190 N. Seminole Ave.

 

Santa Rosa County
Permanent Drop Box Locations:

District One – Gulf Breeze Area
1322 College Parkway Gulf Breeze, FL 32563
Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday

District Two –Navarre Area
8597 High School Blvd. Navarre, FL 32566
Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday

District Three – Pace Area
4775 Pace Patriot Boulevard Pace, FL 32571
Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday

District Four -East Milton Area
5755 East Milton Road Milton, FL 32583
Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday

District Five – Jay Area
3695 Highway 4 Jay, FL 32565
Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday

 

Sarasota County
Please read this flyer:
Safe RX Disposal Guidelines for Sarasota County

Seminole County
10 Permanent Drop Box Locations:
http://seminolepreventioncoalition.org/pitchyourpills/proper-prescription-drug-disposal-facts.html

St. Johns County
Permanent Drop Box Location:

St. Johns County
Sheriff’s Office Main Lobby
4015 Lewis Speedway
St. Augustine, FL

 

St. Lucie County
Permanent Drop Box Location:

Port St. Lucie Sheriff's Office.
Prescription Medication Disposal Box

 

Volusia County
Take back drugs for disposal at one of these locations:

• 1706 S. Woodland Blvd., DeLand
• 1200 Deltona Blvd., Suite 44, Deltona
• 94 S. U.S. Highway 17-92, DeBary
• 999 3rd Street, Holly Hill
• 101 E. Canal Street, New Smyrna Beach

Or, call to arrange to have the Sheriff’s office pick them up from your home:
(386) 822-5070 in West Volusia
(386) 248-1770 in the Daytona Beach area
(386) 423-3870 in New Smyrna Beach area

Read a press release about the program:
http://www.volusia.org/sheriff/press/2011press_releases/january/110016.htm

 

Wakulla County
Sheriff's office
15 Oak Street
Crawfordville
(850) 745-7110 for information

Drop off or mail back programs through retailers

CVS, Rite Aid, Winn Dixie, Walgreens, Sweetbay Supermarket drugstores and pharmacies: all locations will now offer for sale a Sharps Compliance Corp. postage-paid envelope for $3.99 at the pharmacy; medications are mailed through the U.S. Postal Service to Sharps Compliance Corp.’s licensed facility for safe destruction. By law, this program cannot accept controlled substances – illegal drugs or certain prescription medications that are regulated by the government. For more information, please contact the pharmacy at one of those locations.

This is not necessarily a complete list of companies providing these services. A company's absence from the list does not imply prejudice or impropriety. The DEP does not endorse specific equipment or companies.

If you cannot find a drop-off site please use the disposal guidance here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take my unwanted medicine to my pharmacy?

Sorry, but it is illegal for your pharmacy to take back drugs that have already been prescribed.

Can I take my unwanted medicine to my doctor?

Sorry, but it is illegal for your doctor to take back drugs that have already been prescribed.

Can I take my unwanted medicine to a hospital?

Sorry, but it is illegal for a hospital to take back drugs that have already been prescribed.

Can I donate my unwanted medicine?

In most cases, no. However, the Department of Health has information about donating chemotherapy drugs here:
http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/DDC/Cancer/cancer_faq.html

Can I put my unwanted medicine in my SHARPS container?

No, medicine should not be disposed in your sharps container. For information on sharps disposal:
http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Environment/community/biomedical/sharps.htm

So if I can’t take them to my pharmacy, my doctor, a hospital and I can’t donate them or put them in my sharps container, how do I dispose of them if there is no local collection opportunity for me?

Please use our guidance document which will show you how to safely disguise and dispose of your medication in your trash.
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/quick_topics/publications/shw/meds/dontflushfinal.pdf

How do I dispose of waste pharmaceuticals from a business?

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/pharm

Please send information about events, permanent take back sites and mail back programs for inclusion on this webpage to Laurie.Tenace@dep.state.fl.us or call 850-245-8759.