Medication and Sharps Disposal

Keeping medications or syringes after they are no longer needed may cause unnecessary risk, especially if there are children, pets or vulnerable adults in the home. It is recommended that you remove unneeded medications from your home to prevent someone from accidentally taking or intentionally misusing them.

Improper disposal of medications and syringes (i.e. throwing them out in the garbage or flushing them down the toilet) can harm the environment and contaminate water supplies. Proper disposal of medications and syringes can ensure that they are not accidentally touched, ingested, or misused. To learn more about safe syringe storage before disposal, visit the FDA website.

There are several ways that you can safely dispose of unneeded medications and used syringes in Saratoga County:

• DEA Drug Take Back Day: Twice a year Saratoga County will participate in the DEA National Drug Take Back Day, typically held in April and October. On this day, there will be several sites located throughout the county where residents can drop-off medications for disposal. To find information about the next Take Back Day, please visit Take Back Day (dea.gov).

• Deterra Medication Disposal System: The Deterra system deactivates prescription drugs, pills, patches, liquids, creams and films. It deactivates the substance and ensures that it is unavailable for potential misuse or accidental poisoning. Deterra medication disposal systems are available for free from the Saratoga County Department of Health. Please note that these systems are not recommended if you have a large quantity of medications to dispose of.

• Hospitals and Nursing Homes: All hospitals and nursing homes in New York State are mandated by law to accept home-generated sharps. To learn more about this program and to find a participating location near you, please visit New York State Safe Sharps Collection Program (ny.gov).

• Mail-Back Supply Locations: Medication mail-back supply locations provide free, prepaid mail-back envelopes so residents can safely dispose of unwanted household medications. It is recommended to call the location to confirm they have mail-back supplies available. To learn more or to request mail-back supplies, visit Med Takeback NY.

• Medication and Sharps Disposal Boxes: There are several medication and sharps disposal boxes located throughout Saratoga County.

These sites are free and open to the public. It is recommended to call the location to review what types of medications/syringes they accept before dropping them off. A list of participating locations can be found below: