SafeMeds

Safe Disposal of Expired & Unwanted Pharmaceutical Waste for Safer Homes

COVID-19 Update: All SafeMeds Collections locations may be SUSPENDED. Please contact the location you are trying to dispose at to verify that they are still open for SafeMeds collection prior to arriving.

We believe this the responsible choice to minimize risk of exposure of COVID-19 for children, families, those groups or individuals especially at risk, and our staff. We look forward to resuming our SafeMeds program for regular hours and at all locations as soon as the threat of Covid-19 has been abated.

Don’t Let Your Medications Get Into the Wrong Hands or the Wrong Place!

Disposing of your unwanted or expired medicines at a participating SafeMeds Drop-Off location will prevent drug abuse, overdose, and environmental damage. Your household medications will be safely disposed of to make your home safer.

SafeMeds is a joint effort between local pharmacies, law enforcement, wastewater treatment facilities, and Kent County to provide residents with safe, convenient access to proper medicine disposal.

What NOT to Do

Flush Down the Toilet
Pour Down the Drain
Throw in Garbage

Proper Disposal

Take to a law enforcement drop-box (accepts both controlled & non-controlled)
Take to a local pharmacy (accepts non-controlled only)

A list of accepted pharmaceuticals for disposal for each type of SafeMeds Drop-Off location is available in the FAQ section below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I properly dispose of my medications? Can't I just throw them away or flush them?

Improper disposal of pharmaceuticals and medication can to lead to a variety of severe problems for our community members and the environment surrounding us. These problems include but are not limited to prescription drug abuse/addiction, overdose, death, contamination of our waterways, additional clean-up and processing costs for municipalities, and overall poor human and environmental health. Only by disposing of these medications properly, can we keep our friends, family, community, and environment safe.

Below are some staggering statistics that illustrate the effects of improper pharmaceutical disposal:

As of 2014 it was estimated that as many as 3 billion prescriptions are being written annually in the United States, with the number of people using prescription medication rising steadily each year.
Not all drugs end up being used by patients—prescribed medications are often wasted. Reasons for pharmaceutical waste include:
- Ineffective medication or adverse side-effects
- Expired before the supply was used up
- Unused medications from a non-compliant, deceased, or discharged patients
Hospitals and long-term care facilities dispose of at least 125 million pounds of pharmaceuticals each year however pharmaceutical waste in communities throughout the U.S. is unknown since data is rarely kept or tracked.
During 1999 and 2000, samples from 139 streams in 30 states were tested for the presence of 95 chemicals by the U.S. Geological Survey, and as reported by the Watershed Council, “82 of the 95 chemicals were detected at least once.” The study also showed that 80% of the waterways tested had traces of a variety of pharmaceuticals, including acetaminophen, hormones, hypertension drugs, codeine, and antibiotics.
A 2008 investigation by the Associated Press found that a wide array of pharmaceuticals have been detected in the drinking water of at least 41 million Americans.
Prescription and over-the-counter drugs are the most commonly abused substances after marijuana and alcohol.
More Americans died from drug overdoses in 2014 than any year before, according to the latest research from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The amount of prescription opioids sold in the United States has nearly quadrupled since 1999, according to the CDC. The amount of pain Americans reported from 1999 to 2014 remained stable, yet the number of deaths from prescription opioids increased nearly fourfold during this time.

Sources:

[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. June 21, 2016. Understanding the Epidemic.

[2] Dyer, Tyler & Ashraf, Ali. May 2018. Addiction to Prescription Drugs.

[3] National Institute on Drug Abuse. June 2015. DrugFacts: Nationwide Trends.

[4] National Institute on Drug Abuse. November 2015. DrugFacts: Prescription and Over-the-Counter-Medications.

[5] Nelson, Roxanne. June 2015. The Excessive Waste of Prescription Drugs. American Journal of Nursing. Vol. 115. Issue 6: p 19-20.

[6] Volkow, N. November 2014. Prescription Drug Abuse.

[7] Whitehouse.gov. 2014. National Drug Control Strategy.

What type of pharmaceutical waste is accepted through SafeMeds collection sites?

What Type of Meds?

Prescription Medications
Antibiotics/Steroids
Cold/Flu Medications
Vitamins/Herbal Supplements
Pet Medications
Medication Samples
Medicated Ointments/Lotions

SafeMeds Pharmacies collects only non-controlled prescriptions and medications

SafeMeds Law Enforcement agencies collect both controlled and non-controlled prescriptions and medications

What is the difference between controlled and non-controlled substances?

Controlled Substances/Prescriptions

Include prescribed medications that can cause physical and mental dependence and therefore have restrictions on how they can filled and refilled. Controlled substances should be dropped off at SafeMeds law enforcement collection sites.

Examples of Controlled Substances

ADHD medications (Adderall or Ritalin)
Opioid pain medications (like Vicodin, Dilaudid, OxyContin, or Percocet)
Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants (like Benzodiazepine medications—Xanax or Klonopin, sleep medications—Ambien or Lunesta, and Barbituates—Luminal or Nembutal)
Suboxone (Naloxone)
Codeine

Non-Controlled Substances/Prescriptions

Include all over-the-counter medications and some prescribed medications with reduced restrictions on how they can be filled or refilled. These are accepted at any SafeMeds collection site (both law enforcement and participating pharmacies).

Examples of Non-Controlled Substances

Some prescription medications, such as blood pressure and cholesterol medications or diabetes medications (including insulin).
Over-the-counter medications
Antibiotics/steroids
Cold and flu medications
Pet/Veterinary medications
Medication samples
Medicated ointments/lotions

What type of pharmaceutical waste CANNOT be brought to a SafeMeds collection site?

Medical Sharps—needles, lancets, syringes, epipens
IV Bags
Hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, or other flammable non-medical items
Inhalers/Aerosol Cans
Electronic devices—diabetes blood sugar level meters and testers, etc.
Thermometers
Empty containers and pill bottles
Business Waste—schools, medical offices, group homes, and other health care facilities
Chemotherapy medications

How do I prepare the medication for drop-off?

If You’re Dropping Off at a pharmacy:

Bring non-controlled medications only in their original container.
DO NOT remove the name of the medication—pharmacy staff must be able to see the medication type so they can properly sort it.
Block out ALL identifying personal information (name, address, phone number, etc.) on the prescription label.
Arrive at the pharmacy counter to drop-off

If You’re Dropping Off at a law enforcement agency:

Bring all (controlled and non-controlled) medications in their original container.
- Depending on the location, you may be asked to consolidate your medications once you arrive to save space in the collection receptacle.
Deposit your pharmaceutical waste in the SafeMeds kiosk drawer to drop-off

How do I properly dispose of medical waste not accepted through the SafeMeds Program?

Intravenous Bags

Empty bags go in the trash – they are NOT recyclable. If the bag contains a fluid, return the bag to the home care provider, pharmacy or other medical provider. They can dispose of the waste safely and properly. It is not recommended that chemotherapy agents be disposed in the trash or poured down the drain.

Chemotherapy Medications

Contact the dispensing physician and pharmacy to address proper disposal of chemotherapy medications. These medications are highly toxic and designated as dangerous waste. This classification requires the medications to be handled and incinerated differently.

Medical Equipment & Supplies

This would include items such as wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs, canes, raised toilet seats, etc. Disposal and reuse/donation outlets can be found on our Medical Equipment & Supplies disposal guide.

Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Rules for Business Waste: Mixed Medical Waste Guidance.

Find SafeMeds Drop-off Locations

SafeMeds Partner Resources

Since 2010, thousands of pounds of medications have been brought back to participating pharmacies and law enforcement offices.

Properly disposing of medication is an important step in preventing abuse or misuse of prescription and over-the-counter medications. In addition, destroying these products at Kent County’s Waste to Energy facility reduces dangers to the environment that arise when they are flushed down the drain or disposed of in landfills.

Preserving the health and safety of the residents and environment in West Michigan is more important than ever and the positive impact that we’ve achieved together has inspired surrounding communities to model medication disposal programs after the SafeMeds program.

Thank you again for your partnership that is helping to keep our community safe!

Disposal Toolkit

Toolkit contains the following information:

Brochure & Flyers

Community Partners

SafeMeds has many partners:

Kent County Department of Public Works

As administrator of the program, Kent County staff focus on outreach materials, services to stakeholders, and community action.

City of Wyoming Clean Water Plant

City of Wyoming staff developed the program in its infancy. Originating as Wy-Meds, the clean water plant personnel pushed for a larger and more developed program. They continue to be a major stakeholder in the program as field staff and in leadership.

City of Grand Rapids Environmental Services

With us from the beginning, the City of Grand Rapids serves as the primary contact for all pharmacies within the city limits and provides the field staff and resources for medication collection.

Kent County Waste to Energy Facility

Making the program possible is our final destruction site. This facility, permitted by Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, is authorized to accept medications for destruction.

Pharmacies

Pharmacies voluntarily participate in the SafeMeds medication collection program because they want to ensure that their customers have safe disposal options for medications they don’t need anymore. They offer convenience through weekend and evening hours. By having direct contact with residents, pharmacies provide an easy disposal solution for many residents who just have non-controlled substances.

Law Enforcement

Participating law enforcement offices provide a one-stop-shop for disposal of medications, both controlled substances and non-controlled. Preventing medications from getting into the wrong hands is a priority for them.

Allegan County

Allegan County Sheriff’s Department
Otsego Police Department
Plainwell Public Safety
Saugatuck/ Douglas Police Department
Wayland Police Department

Barry County

Barry County Sheriff’s Department
Hastings Police Department
Middleville Police Department

Berrien County

Berrien County Sheriff’s Department
New Buffalo Police Department
Niles Law Enforcement Complex

Kent County

Cedar Springs Police Department
East Grand Rapids Police Department
Grand Rapids Police Department
Grandville Police Department
Kent County Sheriff’s Department
Kentwood Police Department
Lowell Police Department
Rockford Police Department
Sparta Police Department
Wyoming Police Department

Muskegon County

Fruitport Police Department
Montague Police Department
Muskegon County Sheriff’s Department
Muskegon Heights Police Department
Muskegon Police Department
Muskegon Twp. Police Department
North Muskegon Police Department
Norton Shores Police Department
Roosevelt Park Police Department
Whitehall Police Department