Medication and Sharps Disposal

OMEDICATION DISPOSAL
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Disposing of your unused or expired medication is important to keep other people, the environment and pets safe. Thank you for reviewing best practices, in order below. 

Semi-Annual Prescription Take Back Day - October 25th, 2025!

Did you know in October 2023, the DEA collected at 4383 sites across the country, 300 tons of unused medication? These meds are now safely out of the hands of children, pets and our community.

The DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) is committed to making our communities safer and healthier through reducing overdoses and overdose deaths. Twice a year they offer Prescription Take Back Days around the nation, find a location near you. 

*Next Take Back Day: 

  • Saturday, October 25th, 10:00 - 2:00 pm
    • CITY OF NORTHAMPTON POLICE
      SMITH VOCATIONAL AND AGRICULTURAL HIGH SCHOOL

Find a Medication Kiosk

You can find a Medication Kiosk near you. Below are two local options.

Medication Kiosk Disposal (Liquids & Inhalers)

South Hadley Police Department, 41 Bridge Street, South Hadley

    • Keep medications in original containers.
    • Leave drug names visible to help identify contents if accidentally ingested.
    • Cross out personal information on labels to make unreadable.
    • Disguise medication with cat litter, coffee grounds or dirt.
    • Close lid, secure with tape

Dispose in the Trash at Home

  • Keep medications in their original containers. Leave drug names visible to help identify the contents if they are accidentally swallowed. Cross out other personal information on labels to make it unreadable.
  • Make the meds as difficult to consume as possible:
    • For pills: add some water or soda to dissolve them
    • For liquids: add inedible material like cat litter, coffee grounds or dirt
  • Close the lids and secure with tape.
  • Hide medication containers in the trash. DO NOT put them in your recycle bin!

Certain Medications Should be Flushed Down the Toilet

The information sheet that came with your medication may tell you to flush it down the drain. For instance, these drugs should be flushed away because they are so dangerous to other people and pets:

  • Actiq (fentanyl citrate)
  • Daytrana Transdermal Patch (methylphenidate)
  • Duragesic Transdermal System (fentanyl)
  • OxyContin Tablets (oxycodone)
  • Avinza Capsules (morphine sulfate)
  • Baraclude Tablets (entecavir)
  • Reyataz Capsules (atazanavir sulfate)
  • Tequin Tablets (gatifloxacin)
  • Zerit for Oral Solution (stavudine)
  • Meperidine HCl Tablets
  • Percocet (Oxycodone and Acetaminophen)
  • Xyrem (Sodium Oxybate)
  • Fentora (fentanyl buccal tablet)

Resources

Drug Kiosk Box

SHARPS DISPOSAL

 The Northampton Department of Health & Human Services accepts sharps in sealed rigid plastic containers. Sharps include needles, syringes, lancets, and auto-injectors such as EpiPens (used or unused).

Monday - Friday from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

There is a disposal charge (depending on size) per container unless a Department of Health & Human Services prepaid container is used. 

Prepaid containers are available for sale at the Health & Human Services window. The container purchase price includes the disposal charge, so if you are returning a container purchased from us, there will be no charge.

$5.00 - Small Container
$8.00 - Medium Container 
$10.00 - Large Container
$12.00 - X-Large Container

Please call (413) 587-1214 with any questions about this program.

Proper Use and Disposal of Needles and Syringes


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