What to Do with Expired Medications?

Check with your local health department. DuPage Co has a program along with surrounding communities.

Some suburban police offices (such as Carol Stream) accept all medication -- prescription or otherwise -- for disposal. Perhaps you can call your local police station and ask for the closest municipality that offers this service.

In the city of Chicago you can take them to certain police precincts for disposal. The one I went to had a blue box as soon as you walked in and you just placed the expired meds in the slot.

The link is too long to post, but Google "Disposing of prescription drugs Chicago" or whatever town in which you reside. You'll find out exactly what you need to do there.

Some shelters will take expired medicines. Rush University I know has a program for unused and expired medicines, I just don't know who to contact.

Same for vet medicines, shelters will take the unused and expired ones.

J.

There are a bunch of options here:

In DuPage County, you can drop them off at the permanent household hazardous waste collection facility in Naperville, and other sites. Visit http://www.bookrescue.org/scarce/default.asp?page=s41 for details.

The Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County partners with many surrounding communities. Here are the details for those interested:

Arlington Heights

Senior Center

1801 W Central Road

###-###-####

First Thursday of each month from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm

Barrington

Public Safety Building

400 N Northwest Highway

###-###-####

First Saturday of each month, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm

Only accepting from Barrington residents.

Buffalo Grove

Village Hall - Health Department

50 Raupp Blvd

###-###-####

Monday 8:30 am - 7:30 pm
Tuesday - Friday 8:30 - 5:00 pm

Only accepting from Buffalo Grove residents.

Elk Grove Village

Village Municipal Complex

901 Wellington

###-###-####

Monday through Friday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm

Only accepting from Elk Grove Village residents.

Evanston

Civic Center - ground floor

2100 Ridge Ave

###-###-####

Monday through Friday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Only accepting from Evanston residents.

Glencoe

Village Hall

675 Village Ct

###-###-####

Wednesdays from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm

Only accepting from Glencoe residents.

Glenview

Village Hall - Lobby (1st Floor)

1225 Waukegan Rd

###-###-####

First Friday of each month, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

If the first Friday falls on a holiday, the collection will be moved to the following Friday.

Only accepting from Glenview residents.

Hoffman Estates

Department of Health and Human Services

1900 Hassell Road (SE Entrance of Village Hall)

###-###-####

First Wednesday of each month - 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Only accepting from Hoffman Estates residents.

Kenilworth

Police Department

419 Richmond Rd

###-###-####

Sunday - Saturday, 24 hours

Only accepting from Kenilworth residents.

Lincolnwood

Police Department

6900 N. Lincoln Ave

###-###-####

Accepts expired and over the counter medications.

First Friday of each month - 7:00 am to 7:00 pm

Only accepting from Lincolnwood residents.

Fire Department

6900 N. Lincoln Avenue

###-###-####

Accepts Sharp containers. Do not bring pharmaceuticals to this location.

Monday through Friday – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Only accepting from Lincolnwood residents.

Morton Grove

Civic Center

6140 Dempster St

###-###-####

M - F - 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Only accepting from Morton Grove residents.

Mount Prospect

Public Works

1700 W Central Road

###-###-####

Monday through Friday 7:30 am - 5:00 pm

Niles

Senior Center

999 Civic Center Dr

###-###-####

Second Wednesday of January, April, July and October from 9:00 - 11:00 am.

Only accepting from Niles residents.

Palatine

Village Hall - Environmental Health Division

200 E. Wood St

###-###-####

Monday through Friday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Only accepting from Palatine residents.

Park Ridge

City Hall Health Department

505 Butler Pl

###-###-####

First Thursday of every month from 8:00 - 11:00 am

Prospect Heights

City Hall

8 N Elmhurst Road

###-###-####, ext. 206

Monday through Thursday from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Skokie

Village Hall - Health Department

5127 Oakton St

###-###-####

Monday through Friday from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
First and Third Wednesdays from 8:30 - 7:00 pm

Only accepting from Skokie residents.

Wheeling

Fire Station 24 (Village Hall Complex)

255 W Dundee Rd

###-###-####

Third Saturday of each month - 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Only accepting from Wheeling residents.

Wilmette

Wilmette Health Department - 2nd Floor of Village Hall

1200 Wilmette Ave

###-###-####

Second Tuesday of month from 7:30 am - 4:30 pm

Only accepting from Wilmette residents.

Winnetka

Fire Department

428 Green Bay Rd

###-###-####

Medications: Wednesdays - 9:00 am to 11:00 am
Sharps: taken M - F - 8:30 am to 5:00 pm

Only accepting from Winnetka residents.

I don't know, but if you find out, please post! I've asked at our local Walgreens and CVS, and they will not take them. I have a box of old children's and prescription medications I don't want to just throw away.