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Medicine & Prescription Drugs

There are increasingly more options for disposing of medicines in the Twin Cities. Many counties and local law enforcement agencies have installed drop boxes or are organizing collection events to give residents the opportunity to properly and safely dispose of unwanted, unused and expired medicines. Programs typically accept all medicines from households, including prescription, over-the-counter and pet medicines.

Properly disposing of medicines is important to prevent abuse or poisoning and protect the environment. Prescription drug abuse is a growing problem, especially among teens, and accidental poisonings from medicines are on the rise. Medicines flushed down the drain or disposed of in the trash can pollute bodies of water, harm wildlife and end up in drinking water supplies.

Reduction Tips

Reduce medicine and prescription drug waste whenever possible.  

  • Use all antibiotics as prescribed by your doctor. Not using all doses of an antibiotic could lead to development of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria.
  • For new medications, ask the doctor to prescribe only enough to see if the medication will work for you and in the lowest dose advisable. That way if the medication doesn't suit you, there is less to waste. 
  • Buy only as much as you can reasonably use before the expiration date. Think twice before buying the bottle of 500 aspirin just because it's cheaper, unless you will use them all. 

Recycling & Disposal Information

The information below is for residents of each county.  Businesses should read our Medical Waste page in the business section.

Anoka County: 

Residents of Anoka County can dispose of their household prescription pills, capsules, caplets, and tablets through the Anoka County Sheriff's Office Drug Take Back Program.

Anoka County Sheriff's Office
13301 Hanson Blvd NW, Andover, MN

Dakota County:

Dakota County has a permanent, year-round collection program for unwanted and expired over-the-counter and prescription medicines. All-drop locations are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Dakota County residents can safely drop off medicines in the designated collection box at the following locations.

Dakota County Law Enforcement Center
1582 Highway 55, Hastings

Burnsville Police Station
100 Civic Center Parkway, Burnsville

West St. Paul Police Station
1616 Humbolt Avenue, West St. Paul

Hennepin County:

Hennepin County has a permanent, year-round collection program for unwanted and expired over-the-counter and prescription medicines at the following locations:

Hennepin County Sheriff's Patrol Headquarters
9401 83rd Avenue North, Brooklyn Park
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Hennepin County Public Safety Facility
401 4th Avenue South, Minneapolis
Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
You are required to go through a metal detector at this location.

Hennepin County Sheriff's Water Patrol
4141 Shoreline Drive, Spring Park
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Ramsey County:

Safely dispose of any unwanted or expired medicines for free at one of Ramsey County's two public drop boxes. Open year-round, Monday - Friday 8 am - 4 pm. (Closed federal holidays.)

Ramsey County Law Enforcement Center
425 Grove St, Saint Paul, MN

Sheriff's Patrol Station
1411 Paul Kirkwold Dr, Arden Hills, MN

Washington County:

Washington County residents may dispose of their unused and expired medications for free at a year-round collection drop box.  Open year-round, Monday - Friday 7:30 am - 5 pm. (Closed federal holidays.)

Washington County Law Enforcement Center
Main Lobby - Sheriff's Office
15015 62nd St. N., Stillwater, MN

 

Bringing your unwanted medications to a collection site is the best way to dispose of them, if you cannot get to a collection site, read more information on proper disposal of medicines and prescribed drugs on the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's Pharmaceutical Waste: Disposing of Unwanted Medications factsheet. 


Do not put needles or other medical sharps in the trash. Syringes, lancets and other medical sharps should be managed separately. You can read about how to safely dispose of sharps on our Needles & Syringes page.