Did you know?  Treatment plants are not designed to remove medications from wastewater. When chemicals are disposed of in sinks and toilets they can reach the environment unintentionally.

Help support the health of our waterways, environment, and community by properly disposing of outdated or unused prescription or over-the-counter medications.

It's now easier than ever to properly dispose of unused medications. Medication disposal boxes have been disbursed throughout states/counties/cities. To find the nearest drop box location use the online search webpages of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA),  Earth911, or the California Department of Consumer Affairs Board of Pharmacy.

In addition to the locations listed in the online searches, El Dorado Disposal and the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office Property Division also have disposal boxes.

• El Dorado Disposal Materials Recovery Facility (MRF)
  4100 Thowita Way, Diamond Springs
  (530) 626-4141
  Hours of acceptance: Friday,  Saturday & Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  Commercial customers need to call to set up an account prior to dropping off.

• El Dorado County Sheriff's Department
  200 Industrial Drive, Placerville 
  (530) 621-5655
  Hours of acceptance: Regular Business Hours

If you are absolutely unable to take your unused medications to an authorized location we recommend the following disposing methods:

• Keep medications in the original bottle marking out all identifying personal information.
• Crush or dissolve solid medications in water.
• Mix dissolved, crushed or liquid medications with kitty litter, sawdust, coffee grounds, or another substance that makes it unsuitable for human or animal consumption.
• Seal the bottle.
• Place the bottle in a, preferably concealed, non-recyclable container, or label "do not recycle".
• Then place the container in your trash right before your garbage pick up or take to a landfill.

Taking these steps will help ensure the health of our waterways, environment, and our community.

 Other Resource Links:

• EPA: How to Dispose of Medicines Properly (PDF)
• CA.gov: Household Medication Wast Disposal
• DEA Drug Take Back Day