Westchester County Department of Environmental Facilities

Improper disposal
Never dispose of medications by flushing them down the drain or toilet. Doing so can taint local waterways and cause harm to those ecosystems. It is important to only flush toilet paper and human waste down the toilet.

Proper disposal
Medications may be brought to a participating police department for collection. Alternatively, the Household Material Recovery Facility (H-MRF) will accept medications on most first Tuesdays of each month, excluding County holidays, by appointment only. The H-MRF also accepts medications on additional days twice a year - in April and October- as part of the US Drug Enforcement Administration's National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The next National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will be October 26, 2024. 

If you are planning on bringing medications to the H-MRF for disposal, confirm that medications are being accept on the day of your reservation prior to arriving. 

Collection days at the H-MRF
Residents can reserve a time slot for appointments up to two weeks in advance. To make or cancel an appointment, call the Recycling HelpLine at (914) 813-5425. The Recycling HelpLine is available seven days a week from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. If you wish to schedule your appointment using the online reservation calendar, please note that medications will only be accepted on dates specifically denoted as "Medication Take-Back Day" for your zip code.

When delivering medications to the H-MRF, keep all items in the original container or, if unavailable, put them in a sealable plastic bag. Liquid medications should be in their containers in sealable plastic bags. County staff will be on hand to accept expired and unused medications for disposal.

Sharps (needles and syringes) are not accepted at the H-MRF. Bring medical sharps to a hospital or nursing home that accepts them.

As a last resort, prescription or over-the-counter pills, liquids, ointments, and lotions as well as pet medications can be disposed with household garbage according to the proper protocol laid out by the New York State Department of Conservation:

• Mix medications (do not crush tablets or capsules) with water and then add salt, ashes, dirt, cat litter, coffee grounds, or another undesirable substance, to avoid accidental or intentional misuse of drugs. To prevent unintentional consumption by scavenging humans, pets, or wildlife, do not conceal discarded drugs in food.
• Hide all medications in an outer container, such as sealable bag, box or plastic tub to prevent discovery and removal from the trash. Seal the container with strong tape.
• Dispose of drugs as close to your trash collection day as possible to avoid misuse and/or misdirection.

For more information visit the NYS DEC Safe Medication Disposal for Households page.

Collection programs at municipal police departments
The following police departments have locked and secure collection boxes where medications can be dropped off 24 hours a day, with two exceptions:

• Cortlandt is available only between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Westchester County Office is available only between 7:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.

It is strongly recommended that you call the police department first to confirm program details.

Program history
Recognizing the health and environmental hazards associated with improper disposal of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, Westchester County launched a "medication take-back" program to ensure the proper disposal of unused and expired medications. This program was the first of its kind in New York State. The first "medication take-back" events took place in March and April of 2008. In just four days, 273 households dropped off more than 700 pounds of pills, liquids, gels, and ointments. It was an overwhelming early success. The program continues to be available at the Household Material Recovery Facility, by appointment only.