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, "MED-Project" 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.

ACCEPTED: Medications in any dosage form except for those listed below, in their original container or sealed bag.

NOT ACCEPTED: Herbal remedies, vitamins, supplements, cosmetics, other personal care products, compressed cylinders, aerosols, inhalers, medical devices, sharps, illicit drugs, mercury containing thermometers and iodine-containing medications.

Medication Drop-Off Locations:

• CVS Pharmacy — 2973 State Street
• CVS Pharmacy — 1109 State Street
• CVS Pharmacy — 3939 State Street
• CVS Pharmacy — 222 West Carrilllo Street
• CVS Pharmacy — 1835 Cliff Drive
• City of Santa Barbara Police Department — 215 E. Figueroa Street
• Medicine Shoppe — 3605 State Street
• San Ysidro Pharmacy — 1498 East Valley Road
• Sansum Clinic — 317 W. Pueblo Street
• Santa Barbara County Public Health Pharmacy, Santa Barbara — 345 Camino del Remedio
• Sheriff’s Department, Santa Barbara Headquarters — 4434 Calle Real
• Sheriff’s Department, Santa Barbara Jail — 4436 Calle Real

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 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.