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Thurston County, Washington

Public Health and Social Services

Where to Drop off Unwanted Medications

Safe and free disposal of unwanted and unused prescription medications is available. Safe disposal reduces risks of accidental poisonings or intentional misuse. It also helps keep medications out of our drinking water, lakes, rivers, streams, and Puget Sound. Remove unwanted and expired medications from your home to reduce risks of accidental poisonings and prescription drug misuseLearn more about opioid use prevention.

The sites listed below accept prescription medications, including controlled substances*, prescription samples, pet medications, medicated ointments or lotions, inhalers, and liquid medications in leak proof containers. We recommend that you call locations in advance to make sure the hours are current and the drop box is not currently full.

Please note: None of the locations listed accept sharps (needles), thermometers, bloody or infectious wastes, or wastes from medical businesses. If you use sharps, learn how to dispose of them safely.

Also, please keep in mind that the drop boxes are designed for collection of prescription medications only.

This list is available for download. (English)
Para ver la lista en espanol, presione aqui. (Spanish) 

dark blue metal box (MEDProject Drop Box) set up in a pharmacy

Medicine Take Back Sites - Drop Box Locations

Rite Aid Stores
Safeway Stores
Walmart Stores
Lacey Police Department
420 College Street SE, Lacey
Open Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10am - 5pm
QFC Pharmacy
4775 Whitman Lane SE, Lacey
Albertsons
3520 Pacific Avenue SE, Olympia
Evergreen State College Police Department
2731 McCann Plaza Drive NW, Olympia
Haggen Pharmacy
1313 Cooper Point Road SW, Olympia
Kaiser Permanente
700 Lilly Road NE, Olympia
Kaiser Permanente - West Olympia
1200 Cooper Point Road SW, Suite 100, Olympia
Olympia Police Department
601 Fourth Avenue East, Olympia City Hall
Open Monday - Friday, 10am - 3pm
Providence St. Peter's Hospital Pharmacy
413 Lilly Road NE, Olympia
Ralph’s Thriftway Pharmacy
1908 Fourth Avenue East, Olympia
SeaMar Community Health Center Pharmacy
3030 Limited Lane NW, Olympia
Walgreens
1510 Cooper Point Road SW, Olympia

Tumwater Police Department
555 Israel Road SW, Tumwater
Open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day

Rite Aid
909 E Yelm Avenue, Yelm

Safeway Pharmacy
1109 E Yelm Avenue, Yelm

Last Resort

If you are unable to make it to one of the drop-off locations, medications can be discarded in your trash. This is not our recommended option, as medications in the trash have the potential for misuse. They can also make their way into the environment when landfill liquids are sent to sewage treatment facilities. If this is your only option, please take the following steps:

  1. Take your prescription drugs out of their original containers.
  2. Mix drugs with an undesirable substance, such as cat litter or used coffee grounds.
  3. Put the mixture into a disposable container with a lid, such as an empty margarine tub, or a sealable bag.
  4. Conceal or remove any personal information, including Rx number, on the empty containers by covering it with black permanent marker or duct tape, or by scratching it off.
  5. Place the sealed container with the mixture, and the empty drug containers, in the trash.

If you have additional questions, please call the Solid & Hazardous Waste hotline at 360-867-2664, or visit Safe Medication Return (WA DOH) 

*Controlled substances are regulated by state and federal laws designed to prevent addiction, abuse, physical and mental harm, and illegal trafficking thereof. Such drugs are illegal for sale or use, with the exception of those dispensed under a physician's prescription for use only by the intended person.

Social Media that has directed you to this web page, has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement PC-01J18001 to the Washington State Department of Health. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.