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Residents

Community Development Agency

This site provides information for medicine, sharps (i.e. needles) and medical waste generated in residential households. Medical waste generated at households must be properly disposed to prevent the exposure of the public to pathogens that may be present in blood and bodily fluids and to prevent chemicals in waste medications from entering the environment.

Sharps waste can include: needles, pen needles, intravenous needles, lancets, and other devices that are used to penetrate the skin for the delivery of medications.

Pharmaceutical or medicine waste can include: any type of medication no longer needed for use or expired. This can include over-the-counter (OTC) medications (i.e. Aspirin) or medications prescribed by a doctor.

If you have any questions please contact the Medical Waste Program at EHSMedicalWaste@marincounty.gov or call 415-473-6907.

Environmental Health Services

3501 Civic Center Drive, Ste 236
San Rafael CA 94903
Office 415-473-9607
Fax 415-473-4120

Monday to Thursday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Friday 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM

 

Sharps Disposal

Zero Waste Marin: Provides Marin County households (except Novato) with a safe and convenient option for sharps disposal.

Residential Drop-off Kiosks

Businesses CANNOT utilize residential drop-off sites for disposal of sharps waste generated at their place of business. If any of the listed drop-off sites are inoperable or out of service, please notify our office for investigation.

Sharps Residential Drop-Off Kiosk Locations
Location Address
CalRecycle Sharps Take Back Program
 Request a mail-back sharps containers to be mailed to your residence for free
Marin Household Hazardous Waste Facility 565 Jacoby Street, San Rafael
Novato HHW Facility 7576 Redwood Blvd., Novato
Walgreens 227 Shoreline Hwy, Mill Valley
Walgreens 155 Northgate One, San Rafael
West Marin Pharmacy 11 4th Street, Point Reyes Station

Pharmaceutical Medicine Waste Disposal

MED-Project: Operates community kiosk drop-off sites and mail-back services for residents to dispose of expired or unwanted medicine.

Inmar Intelligence Consumer Drug Take-Back: Operates community kiosk drop-off sites and mail-back services for residents to dispose expired or unwanted medicine.

Donating Medical Supplies, Equipment and Medication

Medical/Biomedical Supplies and Equipment

Marin Medical Equipment Recyclers

Medshare

Dialysis Supplies

Bridge of Life

Diabetic Supplies

Insulin for Life - USA

diaTribe

LifeCare Alliance

Unused Medications

National Conference of State Legislators – State Prescription Drug Repository Programs

SIRUM

If you utilize any of these programs, we would appreciate any feedback of the viability, convenience, etc. to provide useful resources to the public. Please email feedback to EHS.

Safe Drug Disposal Ordinance

The Marin County Board of Supervisors passed the Marin County Safe Drug Disposal Ordinance in August 2015. The new ordinance will require any producer of prescription and over-the-counter drugs offered for sale in Marin County to participate in an approved drug stewardship program for collection and disposal of unwanted medications.

Safe Drug Disposal Ordinance webpage.