Medication & Sharps Disposal
Takeback Application
Safe Disposal of Medicine
Medicines are found in nearly every home. These products include over-the-counter and prescription medications, such as solid pills and capsules, creams, liquids and aerosols. When used as directed, these products are generally safe for humans and the environment. However, unused or unwanted medicine needs to be disposed of properly to help prevent accidental poisoning, substance abuse, and contamination of water resources.
Protect Your Family and the Environment
Medicines should always be used as directed and securely stored. Improperly using or storing these items can lead to significant medical complications, including poisoning or death. More information on the public health impacts of misusing pharmaceuticals is available from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Unused or unwanted medicines should not be flushed down the toilet or poured into the sink. These methods create the potential for harmful chemicals to end up in our lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater. In fact, traces of some medicines have been found in water samples in 30 states, which have been connected to harmful impacts on localized aquatic ecosystems.
Drug Take-Back Act
On June 10, 2022, Governor Pritzker signed the Drug Take-Back Act into law. Beginning December 1, 2023, every Illinois county will be entitled to at least one medication collection location per 50,000 residents that is financed by pharmaceutical manufacturers. These collection locations will accept both controlled and non-controlled substances free of charge.
The Drug Take-Back Act establishes a series of deadlines for pharmaceutical manufacturers, pharmacies, and potential collection locations between January 1 and December 1, 2023. Every manufacturer of a covered drug, as defined in the Drug Take-Back Act, that is sold or offered for sale in Illinois must register with Illinois EPA and remit the $2,500 registration fee no later than January 1, 2023. A copy of the registration form is available below. Completed forms may be submitted electronically to EPA.Recycling@illinois.gov. The registration fee may be paid online or by a check submitted to:
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
Attn: Materials Management and Compliance Section- Mail Code 24
1021 North Grand Avenue East
Springfield, Illinois 62794
Additional information will be added to this site in early 2023 addressing future programmatic deadlines, which are detailed further below.
We are experiencing delays in assigning the Illinois EPA Bureau of Land (BOL) ID numbers and thank you for your understanding and patience. Once you submit the Drug Takeback Manufacturer Registration Form, the request for a BOL ID number will be facilitated and provided to you once that number is assigned.
Medicine Collection Programs
The best way to dispose of unwanted medicine is through a collection program. These programs include local collections offered by pharmacies and police departments, including several sites sponsored by the Cook County Sheriff's Office, mail-back programs, manufacturer-supported collections for specific medications and household hazardous waste collections. Below is a list of items that are commonly accepted and prohibited at these publicly available collection events.
Commonly Accepted Items |
Commonly Prohibited Items |
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Unwanted medicines should be delivered to the collection location in the original container, if possible. Be sure to first blackout or remove any personal information from the container. If you have any questions about disposal options for your specific medication, please contact your pharmacist.
2020 - 2021 Illinois EPA Medication Takeback Program Participants | |||||
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County |
Location Name |
Address |
City |
Zip |
Hours of Operation |
Adams |
Adams County Health Department |
330 Vermont |
Quincy |
62301 |
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm |
Cass |
Cass County Health Department |
331 South Main Street |
Virginia |
62691 |
Monday - Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm |
Champaign |
Champaign Police Department |
82 East University Avenue |
Champaign |
61820 |
24/7 |
Champaign |
University of Illinois, Public Safety Building |
1110 West Springfield |
Urbana |
61801 |
24/7 |
Clark |
Clark County Health Department |
997 North York Street |
Martinsville |
62442 |
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:00pm |
Clay |
Clay County Health Department |
601 East 12st Street |
Flora |
62839 |
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm |
Coles |
Prairie Medical Pharmacy |
1000 Health Center Drive |
Mattoon |
61938 |
Monday - Friday 8:30am - 5:00pm |
Cook |
Blue Island Police Department |
13031 South Greenwood Avenue |
Blue Island |
60406 |
Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm |
Cook | Broadview Police Department |
2350 South 25th Avenue |
Broadview |
60155 |
Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm |
Cook |
Buffalo Grove Police Department |
46 Raupp Boulevard |
Buffalo Grove |
60089 |
Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm |
Cook |
Burbank Police Department |
5650 West 75th Place |
Burbank |
60459 |
Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm |
Cook |
Burnham Police Department |
14450 Manistee Avenue |
Burnham |
60633 |
Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm |
Cook | Calumet Water Reclamation Plant |
6001 W Pershing Rd |
Cicero |
60804 |
Monday - Friday 6:00am - 6:00pm |
Cook |
Chicago Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility |
1150 N North Branch |
Chicago |
60642 |
Tuesday 7:00am - 12:00pm, Thursday 2:00pm - 7:00pm; 1st Saturday 8:00am - 3:00pm |
Cook |
Cook County Building |
120 North Clark Street |
Chicago |
60602 |
Monday - Saturday 8am - 4:30pm |
Cook |
Cook County Circuit Court House District 2 |
5600 Old Orchard Road |
Skokie |
60077 |
Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm |
Cook |
Cook County Circuit Court House District 3 |
2121 Euclid Avenue |
Rolling Meadows |
60008 |
Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm |
Cook |
Cook County Circuit Court House District 4 |
1500 Maybrook Drive |
Maywood |
60153 |
Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm |
Cook |
Cook County Circuit Court House District 5 |
10220 South 76th Avenue |
Bridgeview |
60455 |
Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm |
Cook |
Cook County Circuit Court House District 6 |
16501 Kedzie Avenue |
Markham |
60428 |
Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm |
Cook |
Cook County Criminal Court Building |
2650 South California Avenue |
Chicago |
60608 |
Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm |
Cook |
Hickory Hills Police Department |
8800 West 87th Street |
Hickory Hills |
60457 |
Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm |
Cook |
Homewood Police Department |
17950 Dixie Highway |
Homewood |
60430 |
Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm |
Cook |
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Main Office Building |
100 East Erie Street |
Chicago |
60611 |
Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm |
Cook |
O'Brien Water Reclamation Plant |
3500 Howard Street |
Skokie |
60076 |
Sunday - Saturday 6:00am - 6:00pm |
Cook |
Saint Anthony Hospital |
2875 West 19th Street |
Chicago |
60623 |
Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm |
Cook |
Stickney Water Reclamation Plant |
6001 West Pershing Road |
Cicero |
60804 |
Sunday - Saturday 6:00am - 6:00pm |
Cook |
Woodridge Police Department |
1 Plaza Drive |
Woodridge |
60517 |
Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm |
DuPage |
Addison Police Department |
3 Friendship Plaza |
Addison |
60101 |
Monday - Friday 8:30am - 5:00pm |
DuPage |
Bensenville Police Department |
345 East Green Street |
Bensenville |
60106 |
24/7 |
DuPage |
Bloomingdale Police Department |
201 South Bloomingdale Road |
Bloomingdale |
60108 |
24/7 |
DuPage |
Burr Ridge Police Department |
7700 County Line Rd |
Burr Ridge |
60527 |
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 8:00pm |
DuPage |
Carol Stream Police Department |
500 North Gary Avenue |
Carol Stream |
60188 |
Sunday - Saturday 8:00am - 5:00pm |
DuPage |
Clarendon Hills Police Department |
448 Park Avenue |
Clarendon Hills |
60514 |
Sunday - Saturday 8:00am - 7:00pm |
DuPage |
Darien Police Department |
1710 Plainfield Rd |
Darien |
60561 |
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm; Saturday - Sunday 7:00am - 3:00pm |
DuPage |
DuPage County Sheriff's Office |
501 N County Farm Rd |
Wheaton |
60187 |
24/7 |
DuPage |
Elmhurst Police Department |
125 East 1st Street |
Elmhurst |
60126 |
24/7 |
DuPage |
Glen Ellyn Police Department |
65 South Park Boulevard |
Glen Ellyn |
60137 |
24/7 |
DuPage |
Glendale Heights Police Department |
300 Civic Center Plaza |
Glendale Heights |
60139 |
Sunday - Saturday 8:00am - 4:00pm |
DuPage |
Hanover Park Police Department |
2011 West Lake Street |
Hanover Park |
60133 |
24/7 |
DuPage |
Itasca Police Department |
540 West Irving Road |
Itasca |
60143 |
24/7 |
DuPage |
Lisle Police Department |
5040 Lincoln Ave |
Lisle |
60532 |
Monday - Friday 7:00am - 7:30pm |
DuPage |
Roselle Police Department |
103 South Prospect Street |
Roselle |
60172 |
24/7 |
DuPage |
Schaumburg Police Department |
1000 West Schaumburg Road |
Schaumburg |
60194 |
24/7 |
DuPage |
Village of Bartlett |
228 South Main Street |
Bartlett |
60103 |
Event: 10/27/18 9:00am - 12:00pm |
DuPage |
Wood Dale Police Department |
404 North Wood Dale Road |
Wood Dale |
60191 |
24/7 |
Effingham |
Effingham County Health Department |
901 West Virginia Avenue |
Effingham |
62401 |
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:00pm |
Ford |
Ford County Public Health Department |
235 North Taft Street |
Paxton |
60957 |
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm |
Franklin |
Franklin County Sheriff's Office |
403 East Main Street |
Benton |
62812 |
24/7 |
Franklin |
Franklin-Williamson Bi-County Health Department |
403 East Park |
Benton |
62812 |
Events: 9/29/18 8am - 12pm; 4/27/19 8am - 12pm |
Fulton |
Fulton County Health Department |
700 East Oak Street |
Canton |
61520 |
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:00pm |
Henderson |
Henderson County Health Department |
208 West Elm |
Gladstone |
61437 |
Monday - Thursday 8am - 4pm; Friday 8am - 12pm |
Henderson |
Henry County Health Department |
4424 US Highway 34 |
Kewanee |
61443 |
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:00pm |
Kane |
Dundee Township Supervisor Office |
611 East Main Street, Suite 201 |
East Dundee |
60118 |
Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm |
Kane |
Village of Campton Hills |
40W270 LaFox Road, Suite B |
Campton Hills |
60175 |
Monday - Friday 9:00am - 4:00pm |
Kendall |
Fox Metro Water Reclamation District |
682 State Route 31 |
Oswego |
60543 |
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm |
Knox |
Knox County Health Department |
1361 West Fremont Street |
Galesburg |
61401 |
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 6:00pm |
Lake |
Solid Waste Agency of Lake County, IL (SWALCO) |
1311 North Estes Street |
Gurnee |
60031 |
Events: 10/25/18, 12/13/18, 2/28/19, 4/25/19, 6/27/19 7:00am - 2:00pm |
LaSalle |
Illinois Valley Community Hospital |
925 West Street |
Peru |
61354 |
Sunday - Saturday 8:00am - 5:00pm |
Lee |
Lee County Sheriff's Department |
306 South Hennepin Avenue |
Dixon |
61021 |
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:00pm |
Livingston |
OSF St. James - John W. Albrecht Medical Center |
2500 West Reynolds Street |
Pontiac |
61764 |
24/7 |
Macon |
Macon County Sheriff's Office |
333 South Franklin Street |
Decatur |
62523 |
24/7 |
Madison |
OSF Saint Anthony's Health Center |
#1 St. Anthony's Way |
Alton |
62002 |
24/7 |
McHenry |
Village of Fox River Grove Police Department |
305 Illinois Street |
Fox River Grove |
60021 |
24/7 |
McLean |
McLean County Sheriff's Office |
104 West Front Street |
Bloomington |
61701 |
24/7 |
McLean |
OSF St. Joseph Medical Center |
2200 East Washington Street |
Bloomington |
61701 |
24/7 |
Mercer |
Mercer County Health Department |
305 NW 7th Street |
Aledo |
61231 |
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm |
Peoria |
OSF St. Francis Medical Center |
530 NE Glen Oak Avenue |
Peoria |
61637 |
24/7 |
Piatt |
Piatt County Sheriff's Office |
1216 Raymond Road |
Monticello |
61856 |
24/7 |
Pike |
Pike County Health Department |
606 West Adams Street |
Pittsfield |
62363 |
Monday - Thursday 8:30am - 5:00pm |
Richland |
Richland County Sheriff's Office |
211 West Market Street |
Olney |
62450 |
24/7 |
Rock Island |
Rock Island County Sheriff's Office |
1317 3rd Avenue |
Rock Island |
61201 |
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm; Saturday - Sunday 8:00am - 12:00pm |
Sangamon |
Sangamon County Department of Public Health |
2833 South Grand Avenue East |
Springfield |
62703 |
Monday 8:00am - 6:30pm; Tuesday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm |
Schuyler |
Schuyler County Health Department |
233 North Congress Street |
Rushville |
62681 |
Tuesday - Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm |
Scott |
Scott County Health Department |
335 West Cherry Street |
Winchester |
62694 |
Monday, Wednesday - Friday 8:30am - 4:00pm |
Vermilion |
Danville Public Safety Building |
2 East South Street |
Danville |
61832 |
24/7 |
Vermilion |
Vermilion County Courthouse |
7 North Vermilion Street |
Danville |
61832 |
Monday - Friday 9:00am - 12:00pm |
Warren |
Warren County Health Department |
240 South Main |
Monmouth |
61432 |
Monday - Thursday 8:00am - 4:00pm |
Wayne |
Wayne County Sheriff's Office |
305 E Court St |
Fairfield |
62837 |
24/7 |
Will |
Braidwood Police Department |
141 West Main Street |
Braidwood |
60408 |
Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm |
Will |
Crest Hill Police Department |
1610 Plainfield Road |
Crest Hill |
60403 |
24/7 |
Will |
Crete Police Department |
1370 Benton Street |
Crete |
60417 |
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:00pm |
Will |
Elwood Police Department |
401 Mississippi Avenue |
Elwood |
60421 |
24/7 |
Will |
Joliet Police Department (downtown) |
150 West Washington Street |
Joliet |
60432 |
24/7 |
Will |
Joliet Police Department (west side) |
7196 Caton Farm Road |
Plainfield |
60586 |
24/7 |
Will |
Lemont Police Department |
14600 127th Street |
Lemont |
60439 |
24/7 |
Will |
Lockport Police Department |
1212 Farrell Road |
Lockport |
60441 |
24/7 |
Will |
Mokena Police Department |
10907 Front Street |
Mokena |
60448 |
24/7 |
Will |
New Lenox Police Department |
208 Veterans Parkway |
New Lenox |
60451 |
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm |
Will |
Peotone Police Department |
208 East Main Street |
Peotone |
60468 |
Monday - Friday 9:00am - 3:00pm |
Will |
Plainfield Police Department |
14300 Coil Plus Drive |
Plainfield |
60544 |
At-Your-Door |
Will |
Romeoville Police Department |
1050 West Romeo Road |
Romeoville |
60446 |
24/7 |
Will |
Shorewood Police Department |
903 West Jefferson Street |
Shorewood |
60404 |
Monday - Friday 9:00am - 3:00pm |
Will |
Wilmington Police Department |
129 Robert P Weidling Drive |
Wilmington |
60481 |
24/7 |
Williamson |
Franklin-Williamson Bi-County Health Department |
8160 Express Drive |
Marion |
62959 |
Events: 9/29/18 8am - 12pm; 4/27/19 8:00am - 12:00pm |
Winnebago |
OSF St. Anthony Medical Center |
5666 East State Street |
Rockford |
61108 |
24/7 |
Illinois EPA Medication Takeback Program
Subject to available funding, the Illinois EPA provides disposal of medications collected from residents at partnering collection sites across the state. To apply to participate in the Medication Collection Program for the State Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2021, submit an application to EPA.Recycling@illinois.gov. The application and instruction sheet are available at the links below.
If you click on one of the links and get a message that starts with “Please wait…,” then your web browser is probably using a built-in PDF viewer, rather than using Acrobat Reader. In that case, upgrading to the latest version of Acrobat Reader will not fix the problem. Instead, do this:
- Right-click on the link and select “Save link as…” to download the forms to your local drive.
- Use Acrobat Reader to open the downloaded file from your local drive
Additional Information
If necessary, some medicines may be disposed of with other household garbage. To ensure safe handling, those medicines should be mixed with coffee grounds, kitty litter, or saw dust in a sealed disposable container before placing with other household waste.
For additional information on medication disposal, please contact the Illinois EPA at (217) 524-3299 or view the Illinois EPA’s collection location fact sheet.