Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

    • Environmental Topics
    • Air
    • Bed Bugs
    • Cancer
    • Chemicals, Toxics, and Pesticide
    • Emergency Response
    • Environmental Information by Location
    • Health
    • Land, Waste, and Cleanup
    • Lead
    • Mold
    • Radon
    • Research
    • Science Topics
    • Water Topics
    • A-Z Topic Index
    • Laws & Regulations
    • By Business Sector
    • By Topic
    • Compliance
    • Enforcement
    • Laws and Executive Orders
    • Regulations
    • Report a Violation
    • Environmental Violations
    • Fraud, Waste or Abuse
    • About EPA
    • Our Mission and What We Do
    • Headquarters Offices
    • Regional Offices
    • Labs and Research Centers
    • Planning, Budget, and Results
    • Organization Chart
    • EPA History

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Household Medication Disposal

Information for Hospitals, Pharmacies and Other Businesses that Have Medicines to Dispose

On this page: 

  • Take-backs are for Individuals 
  • Healthcare Facilities Must Comply with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act 
  • Long-term Care Facilities 

Take-backs are for Individuals

Hospitals, pharmacies, and other businesses generating pharmaceutical waste cannot use take-back programs or events or mail-back envelopes to dispose of their pharmaceuticals. The Drug Enforcement Administration take-back regulations only allow for the collection of medications from “ultimate users” (i.e., individuals to whom they were prescribed).


Healthcare Facilities Must Comply with RCRA

Healthcare facilities and healthcare-related businesses that generate pharmaceutical wastes are responsible for appropriately managing their wastes in accordance with all local, state, and federal regulations. This includes RCRA regulations for managing hazardous waste pharmaceuticals, if the pharmaceuticals generated are hazardous waste.  


Long-term Care Facilities

DEA regulations allow retail pharmacies that are DEA registrants to place collection receptacles (also called “kiosks”) at long-term care facilities to collect residents’ (i.e., ultimate users’) controlled substance medications. A facility with a kiosk must not place its own inventory of controlled substances into the collection receptacle. Whether a long-term care facility may place the facility’s hazardous waste pharmaceuticals that are not controlled substances into the kiosk depends on its RCRA status: 

  • Long-term care facilities that are NOT operating under Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations part 266 subpart P: If the long-term care facility is a very small quantity generator under RCRA regulations and it has not opted into using 40 CFR part 266 subpart P for the management of its hazardous waste pharmaceuticals, then the long-term care facility may place the facility’s hazardous waste pharmaceuticals in the on-site collection receptacle along with the residents’ medications.  

  • Long-term care facilities that are operating under 40 CFR part 266 subpart P:  If the long-term care facility is operating under 40 CFR part 266 subpart P (whether it is required to or is a VSQG that has opted in), only the residents’ pharmaceuticals may be placed in an on-site kiosk. The long-term care facility’s hazardous waste pharmaceuticals may not be placed in a kiosk and must be managed according to the applicable RCRA 40 CFR part 266 subpart P regulations.

Household Medication Disposal

  • Basics
  • Safe Storage of Medicines in the Home
  • What to Do with Unwanted Household Medicines
  • Safe Needle Disposal for Households
  • For Retail Pharmacies, Hospitals, and Clinics with Take-Back Kiosks
  • For Law Enforcement Agencies
  • For Community Organizations that Sponsor Collections
  • For Hospitals, Pharmacies, and other Businesses with Unwanted Medicines
  • Frequent Questions About Collected Household Medicines
  • Map of Commercial Waste Combustors in the U.S.
  • Guidance and Relevant Websites
Contact Us About Household Medication Disposal
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on February 11, 2025
  • Assistance
  • Spanish
  • Arabic
  • Chinese (simplified)
  • Chinese (traditional)
  • French
  • Haitian Creole
  • Korean
  • Portuguese
  • Russian
  • Tagalog
  • Vietnamese
United States Environmental Protection Agency

Discover.

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Budget & Performance
  • Contracting
  • EPA www Web Snapshot
  • Grants
  • No FEAR Act Data
  • Plain Writing
  • Privacy
  • Privacy and Security Notice

Connect.

  • Data
  • Inspector General
  • Jobs
  • Newsroom
  • Regulations.gov
  • Subscribe
  • USA.gov
  • White House

Ask.

  • Contact EPA
  • EPA Disclaimers
  • Hotlines
  • FOIA Requests
  • Frequent Questions
  • Site Feedback

Follow.