CleanScapes Tip: Safe Medicine Disposal - local drug take-backs

National Pharmaceuticals Take-back Day

Properly dispose of your medications

October 29, 2011 from 10am to 4pm

Shoreline Police Station

1206 N 185th St

Shoreline, Washington 98133

Safe Medicine Disposal

Got meds? Most of us do. Once they expire or are no longer needed, there is a better, safer and healthier solution than flushing them down the drain or throwing them in the garbage.

The Take Back Your Meds program offers drop-off locations throughout Washington and provides a safe way to take back, and dispose of, unwanted medications.

Local Take Back locations

These locations will take your medications on a regular basis, when a pharmacist is on duty.

Bartell Drugs, Shoreline Pharmacy - Gateway Plaza
18420 Aurora Ave. N, Shoreline WA 98133-4416
Monday - Friday 9am-9pm; Saturday 9am-6pm; Sunday 10am-6pm

Bartell Drugs, Mountlake Terrace - Cedar Plaza
22803 44th Ave W, Mountlake Terrace WA 98043 - Snohomish County No controlled substances

Bartell Drugs, Edmonds Pharmacy - Westgate
23028 100th Ave. W, Edmonds WA 98020 - Snohomish County Monday-Friday 9am-9pm; Saturday 9am-6pm; Sunday 10am-6pm No controlled substances
425-774-4916

Group Health Cooperative, Lynnwood Medical Clinic Pharmacy
20200 54th Ave W, Lynnwood WA 98036 - Snohomish County Monday-Friday 8:30am-6pm; Saturday 9am-12:30pm
425-672-6460

Controlled substances

Controlled substances are only accepted at participating law enforcement offices. Controlled substances are drugs with a high potential for abuse and addiction. Examples include:

• Narcotic pain killers such as Vicodin®, OxyContin®, Percocet®, codeine, methadone, Fentanyl® patches and morphine
• Stimulant drugs, such as Ritalin® and Adderall®
• Depressants such as Xanax® , Valium® and lorazepam

These locations will take controlled substances on a regular basis, but it is a good idea to call first:

Mountlake Terrace Police
5906 232nd St. SW, Mountlake Terrace WA 98043
Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm
425-388-3199

Brier Police Station
2901 228th St. SW, Brier WA 98036 - Snohomish County Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm Accepts controlled substances
425-388-3199

Edmonds Police
250 Fifth Ave. N, Edmonds WA 98020 - Snohomish County Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm Accepts controlled substances
425-388-3199

Take Back locations accept over-the-counter medicine, vitamins, prescription medication, pet meds, inhalers, samples and liquid medications. A complete list of what you can bring to a Take Back location, and which items may need special handling or disposal, is available online.

For the items that cannot be dropped off, such as needles, empty prescription containers and syringes there are alternative disposal solutions available.

What can you take back?
Temporary drop off locations
Frequently asked questions

The Big Picture

Why bring medicines back? After years of flushing unused medicines down the drain, studies are now showing minute levels of pharmaceuticals in waterways and drinking water across the US.

In 1999-2000, the US Geological Survey tested 139 streams throughout the US for the presence of 95 pharmaceuticals. The tests found that 80% of streams contained 1 or more of these pharmaceutical chemicals, 50% of streams contained 7 or more pharmaceutical chemicals and 34% of streams contained 10 or more pharmaceutical chemicals.

Environmental Protection Agency studies in 2007 indicated that over 100 individual PPCPs (Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products as Pollutants) have been identified in environmental samples and drinking water.

In 2008 the Associated Press announced results of their investigative study, reporting that the drinking water for 46 million people has trace amounts of pharmaceuticals.

While more research is needed to determine long term health impacts on humans and aquatic ecosystems from PPCPs, we can help do our part now and dispose of medicine safely.

By keeping unused and expired medicine out of our waterways you can help keep drinking water, waterways and wildlife safe!

Do you have a great idea or community waste reduction project?  Email the CleanScapes waste reduction team.