Residents can dispose of their expired or unwanted medications for free in a secured pharmaceutical drop-off box located at the Shoreway Environmental Center's Public Recycling Center located at 333 Shoreway Road in San Carlos. The program is for non-controlled substance medications only, including all over the counter medicines and some prescriptions. Examples of accepted over the counter items include ibuprofen, cough medicine, vitamins and allergy medication. The medication can come in liquid or pill form, or pill punch packs, and should be left in their original container when being placed in the drop-off box, including the pill punch packs.
Controlled substances are those drugs or chemicals whose manufacture, possession and use are regulated by the Controlled Substances Act which is enforced the Drug Enforcement Administration. These cannot be dropped off at Shoreway. Residents can check with their doctors, pharmacy or the booklet attached to the drop-off box to determine whether a prescription is considered a controlled substance.