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Residential Medication Disposal
Please don’t flush medicines down the toilet any more! A recent study shows that 80% of US streams contain small amounts of pharmaceuticals. Sewage systems cannot remove these substances from water that is then released into lakes, rivers, or oceans, affecting fish and other aquatic animals. Very small amounts of medicine have even been found in drinking water.
In Santa Barbara County, "Operation Medicine Cabinet" provides safe disposal of unwanted prescription and over-the-counter household medications. You can place medicines in a baggie and recycle the containers, or keep medications in their original containers but remove or scratch out all personal information.
Medication Drop-off Locations
The drop boxes listed below accept Controlled Substances. (Drop-off boxes are similar to post office public mailboxes that do not allow removal except by authorized personnel.)
| Business Name | Phone | Address |
|---|---|---|
| SB Police Department Lobby | 805-897-2300 | 215 E. Figueroa St. Santa Barbara, CA |
| Santa Barbara Sheriff's Station | 805-681-4100 | 4434 Calle Real Santa Barbara, CA |
| Medicine Shoppe | 805-687-1376 | 3605 State St. Santa Barbara, CA |
| San Ysidro Pharmacy Inc. | 805-969-2284 | 1498 E VALLEY RD. Montecito, CA |
Residential Needles & Sharps Disposal
It is illegal to place sharps or sharps containers in trash or recycling containers.
Mail In Sharps Disposal
Under the new trash contract, Santa Barbara residents are entitled to receive free mail-in medical sharps containers.
For more details or to request a container be brought to your home, please contact MarBorg at (805) 963-1852.
Sharps Drop-off Locations
The following sites are free for residential dropoff unless otherwise indicated. Sharps must be placed in approved collection containers. Cans and plastic milk jugs are NOT appropriate containers and will not be accepted. Many drop-off locations have proper containers available.
| Business Name | Hours | Phone | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Barbara County Clinical Laboratory | Mon - Fri, 8:00 - 12:00, 1:00 - 5:00 | (805) 681-5380 | 315 Camino Del Remedio, Room 117 Santa Barbara, CA |
| Santa Barbara County Health Clinic-Franklin Center | Mon - Fri, 7:30 - 12:00, 12:30 - 5:00 | (805) 568-2099 | 1136 East Montecito Street Santa Barbara, CA (downtown) |
Business Medication & Sharps Disposal
Hospitals, clinics, medical practices, acupuncturists, pathology labs, convalescent homes, group homes, nursing facilities, hospices, and veterinary hospitals must use commercial disposal companies. Search on the internet for "sharps disposal" or "medication disposal" for options.
Thermometers & Blood Pressure Cuffs
Older thermometers and blood pressure cuffs contain mercury, which is a heavy metal and hazardous to your health. Newer, digital thermometers do not contain mercury, but must be recycled with the electronics. Bring all mercury devices to the Community Household Hazardous Waste Site at UCSB (link to Hazardous Waste section on the Special Waste page).
If you have broken a thermometer and mercury pours out, you must recover all of the droplets and place in an airtight container without touching it. If vacuumed, placed in the trash, or left uncollected, the mercury will evaporate and you will breathe it in.