Pharmaceutical/Sharps Disposal

SWANCC sponsors a collection/disposal program for expired or unused medications and sharps, and provides a one-quart collection container for needles. Recent research by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Geological Survey revealed that there are a substantial amount of antibiotics and steroidal hormones in rivers, lakes and wells caused by people flushing their medications down the toilet or putting them down the sink. Additionally, sharps can cause needle-sticks and health issues if thrown away in the garbage or put in the water system.

Residents are asked to leave their medications in the original containers and to mark out their personal information. No over-the-counter liquid medications will be accepted. No commercial or institutional waste will be accepted. For additional information regarding the dangers of medicine in the water system or in the trash, go to epa.gov/osw.

To dispose of controlled substances, please refer to Save A Star drop-off locations or DEA Take-Back Days. Please refer to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency's list of regulated pharmaceutical controlled substances.

Download the Pharmaceutical Drugs and Sharps Disposal brochure.

Arlington Heights Senior Center
1801 W Central Rd
(847) 253-5532
First Thursday of each month from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
Sharps are accepted during regular business hours. No drop-offs in July.

Barrington Public Safety Building
400 N Northwest Hwy
(847) 304-3300
First Saturday of each month: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Buffalo Grove Village Hall
Health Department
50 Raupp Blvd
(847) 459-2530
M: 8:00 am - 7:30 pm
T-F: 8:00 - 4:30 pm

Elk Grove Village Hall
Municipal Complex
901 Wellington
(847) 357-4240
M-F: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm

Evanston Civic Center
Ground floor
2100 Ridge Ave
(847) 866-2948
M-F: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Glencoe Village Hall
Residents Service Counter
675 Village Ct
(847) 835-4111
W: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm

Glenview Village Hall
Lobby (1st Floor)
1225 Waukegan Rd
(847) 904-4340
First Friday of each month: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
If the first Friday falls on a holiday, the collection will be moved to the following Friday.

Hoffman Estates Village Hall
Department of Health and Human Services
1900 Hassell Rd
(SE entrance of Village Hall)
(847) 781-2631
First Wednesday of each month: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Inverness - Palatine Rural Fire Station #36
35 N Ela Rd
(847) 991-8700
M - F: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Kenilworth Police Department
419 Richmond Rd
(847) 251-2141
Sun-Sat: 24 hours

Lincolnwood Police Department
6900 N. Lincoln Ave
(847) 673-2167
Accepts expired and over the counter medications.
First Friday of each month: 7:00 am to 7:00 pm

Lincolnwood Fire Department
6900 N. Lincoln Ave
847-673-1545
Accepts sharp containers only. Do not bring pharmaceuticals to this location.
M-F: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Morton Grove Civic Center
6140 Dempster St
(847) 470-5223
M - F: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Mount Prospect Public Works
1700 W Central Rd
(847) 870-5640
M-F: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm

Palatine Village Hall
Environmental Health Division
200 E Wood St
(847) 359-9090
M-F: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Park Ridge City Hall
Health Department
505 Butler Pl
(847) 318-5291
First Thursday of every month: 8:00 am - 11:00 am

Prospect Heights City Hall
8 N Elmhurst Rd
(847) 398-6070, x206
M-Th: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Rolling Meadows Public Works
3900 Berdnick St
(847) 870-2884
M-F: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Skokie Village Hall
Health Department
5127 Oakton St
(847) 933-8252
M-F: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
First and Third Wednesdays: 8:30 am - 7:00 pm

Wheeling Village Hall
Police Department
1 Community Blvd
(847) 499-9045
Third Saturday of each month: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Wilmette Police Station
Medications only
710 Ridge Rd
(847) 853-7545
Medications: M-Sun: 24/7

Wilmette Fire Station
Sharps only
1304 Lake Ave
(847) 853-7691
Sharps: M-Sun: 24/7

Winnetka Fire Department
428 Green Bay Rd
(847) 501-6029
Medications: M-F: 8:30 am to 4:00 pm
Sharps: M-F: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm

SWANCC's Green Pages: Reuse and Recycling Directory provides additional options for medication disposal or medications may be taken to Household Chemical Waste collection sites.