New Pharmaceutical Collection Bin at the Albany Senior Center

Wondering what to do with those expired, unused and unwanted medications in your medicine cabinet?
Pharmaceutical drugs cannot be fully removed by traditional wastewater treatment. Flushing expired or unwanted medicines down the toilet can harm the San Francisco Bay.

You can now safely dispose of your unwanted medications for free by bringing them to the Albany Senior Center. The medication disposal bin is located in the lobby and is accessible during their regular business hours.

Albany Senior Center
846 Masonic Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
(510) 524-9122
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-5:00 pm

Disposing of your unwanted medicines at this site free. The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) collects pollution prevention fees from wastewater customers to help fund this program.

What types of medicines can go into the disposal bin?
• Unused and expired prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications
• Pet medicines
• Prescription strength liquids and creams
• NOTE: Controlled substances are not accepted in this bin. See below for information on disposal of these items.

How do I use the disposal bin?
• Pills/capsules: take them out of their plastic bottles and put the medicines in a plastic zipper bag; recycle the plastic pill bottles at home. You can ask Senior Center staff for a bag.
• Liquid medication: block out your personal information on the container; leave the medication in the original container and put in a leak-proof plastic bag.
• Drop the bagged medicines into the disposal bin.

How do I dispose of controlled substances?
The Albany Police Department holds National Prescription Drug Take Back Day events twice per year in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration to help prevent drug abuse and prevent ground-water contamination. Controlled substances are accepted at these events. For more information, please contact the Albany Police Department at (510) 525-7300.