Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medication Disposal Needle (Sharps) Disposal

Drop Off Unused & Unwanted Medicine in the City’s Free Medicine Disposal Bin. City of Thousand Oaks’ residents can now safely and confidentially dispose of expired or unwanted pharmaceuticals.  A Medicine Collection Drop-Box is located at the City of Thousand Oaks’ Police Department and is available during normal business hours. City of Thousand Oaks residents only (no business waste accepted).

Old & Unused Medicine Disposal Bin East Valley Police Station Lobby 2102 E. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks, 91360 (map) Hours: Monday - Friday; 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

	Prepare for Disposal:	Remove personal information. Leave medicine in the container. Seal liquid medicines in a plastic bag.
	Do Not Bring:	Needles (Sharps) Controlled Substances Medical Waste IV Bags

Pharmaceutical Mail-In Program For elderly or disabled individuals unable to use the drop-off container at the Police Station, the City will provide mail-in envelopes that are pre-addressed to a company licensed to accept and dispose of these materials safely.  To request a free mail-in envelope, please call (805) 449-SAVE (7283) or click here to e-mail your request.  Please include your name, mailing address and phone number.

Why are Unused Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medications Disposal a Concern? The Problem is Two-Fold: 1.     Environmental Concerns - Old or unwanted drugs that are disposed of by flushing or pouring down a sink enter the environment because wastewater treatment facilities are not designed to remove them. Studies from the U.S. Geological Survey indicates that 80% of the Nation’s waterways contain trace amounts of pharmaceutical waste. While scientists are just now studying the potential effects on humans, there have been demonstrated negative effects on certain wildlife, such as fish. 2.   Drug Abuse Concerns - Storing unused or outdated prescriptions creates an opportunity for illegal use. Estimates from law enforcement personnel state that approximately 40% of the drugs abused by kids come from the home of a friend or relative and a report from the Office of National Drug Control Policy states that every day, 2,500 youth (12-17) abuse a prescription pain reliever for the very first time. Nearly half say they get the medications from friends and relatives for free, often by raiding the medicine cabinet or by attending "pharming parties" where teens barter legal drugs and get high.

Other Area Pharmaceutical Disposal Programs

Agoura Hills prescription medication disposal: Collection bin located at the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff's Station - click here for information. Camarillo prescription medication disposal: Collection bin located at the Camarillo Police Department – click here for map. Fillmore prescription medication disposal: Collection bin located at Fillmore Police Department - click here for map. Ojai prescription medication disposal: Collection bin located at Ojai Sheriff’s Substation – click here for more information. Santa Barbara County Operation Medicine Cabinet household medication collection – click here for information and locations.

Improper disposal of used "sharps" (needles, syringes, and lancets) can injure:

Children Home health care providers

Sanitation workers Pets

Now there is a safe solution! Bring your used sharps to the locations listed below for proper and convenient disposal. Free "Biohazard" rigid plastic sharps containers are available at the collection facilities for you to use at home.

For safety reasons, sharps will not be accepted in:
Liquid detergent bottles Bleach bottles Coffee cans	Glass containers Milk jugs Soda bottles

Sharps Disposal Guidelines Sharps should be placed into a container immediately after use. Do not attempt to remove, bend, break, or recap the needle. Keep all sharps and disposal containers out of the reach of children. Please do not place in curbside trash or recycling carts.