Prescription Drug/Medication Disposal

It is recommended to safely dispose of unwanted or unused medications. Keeping leftover prescriptions, including controlled substances, may increase the risk of accidental poisonings and may lead to misuse or abuse of medications.

There are safe, convenient ways to dispose of unused or unwanted medications in our community. Find a disposal near you: https://iowa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/mapviewer/index.html

You can learn more about safe disposal from Iowa’s medication disposal program at: https://www.iarx.org/meddisposal

Accepted Medications:
Unused or expired prescription or over-the-counter medicines in their original packaging:

pills, tablets, capsules
ointments
creams
lotions
powders
inhalers and nebulizer solutions
liquid medicines less than 4 oz.

Not Accepted:

Needles and Syringes. Click to Learn More
Liquids more than 4 oz. – place in a plastic bag and put in the garbage.
Thermometers
Rubbing Alcohol and Hydrogen Peroxide

Other Locations:

Look for the rack, at your local pharmacist or health care provider. You’ll find disposal bags and more information on keeping your prescription drugs safe and disposed of properly.

Sharps Disposal

All sharps need to be disposed of properly. The Solid Waste Agency located at 1954 County Home Road, Marion, Iowa, accepts medical SHARPS disposal at no charge. To learn more click here.

Medication Lock Box

Keeping medications in a secure location helps:

Keep them out of reach of children
Prevent theft or misuse
Protect your privacy by keeping health information confidential

A lockbox supports safe and responsible medication habits for your household.

Good news: For a limited time, the Wellness Coalition of Rural Linn County is offering lockboxes FREE OF CHARGE![Click here to apply for a medication lockbox.]

Quantities are limited. While we cannot guarantee that every request will be fulfilled, we will do our best to provide lockboxes to individuals in need.