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Environment

Medicine disposal from households

See a complete list of medicine drop boxes below and be sure to follow safe storage guidelines for your medicines.

Safely dispose of unused medicines at one of the medicine drop boxes in Hennepin County. Drop boxes are operated in partnership with Hennepin County or by independent pharmacies.

Medicine disposal program flyer (PDF, 3MB)

Drop box locations

There are drop boxes located throughout Hennepin County for residents to dispose of medicines.  

Medicine drop boxes operated in partnership with Hennepin County

These boxes are shown as red squares on the map.

Brooklyn Center – Brooklyn Center Police Department

Brooklyn Center – Hennepin County Library/District Court – Brookdale

Brooklyn Park – Police Department

Brooklyn Park – Hennepin Healthcare Brooklyn Park Clinic Pharmacy

Crystal – Police Department

Golden Valley – Police Department

Maple Grove – Police Department

Minneapolis – Hennepin County Public Safety Facility

Parking

Minneapolis – Hennepin Healthcare Clinic and Specialty Center

Minneapolis – Hennepin Healthcare Shapiro Pharmacy

Minneapolis – Hennepin Healthcare St. Anthony Village Clinic Pharmacy

Minneapolis – Hennepin Healthcare Whittier Clinic and Pharmacy

Minneapolis – Police Department, 1st Precinct

  • July 2025: this location is temporarily closed during a relocation. 

Minneapolis – NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center

Minnetonka – Hennepin County District Court – Ridgedale

Osseo – Police Department

Plymouth – Hennepin County Sheriff’s Patrol Headquarters

Richfield – Hennepin Healthcare Richfield Clinic and Pharmacy

Rogers – Police Department

Spring Park – Hennepin County Sheriff’s Water Patrol

St. Anthony – Police Department

St. Louis Park – Police Department

Medicine drop boxes operated by independent pharmacies*

These boxes are shown as yellow triangles on the map.

*It is important to check the websites of independent pharmacies before visiting their medicine drop boxes. What medicines are accepted, hours, and box appearance can vary.

Bloomington – CVS store

Bloomington – Fairview Pharmacy

Bloomington – Walgreens store

Brooklyn Park – CVS store

Brooklyn Park – Hy-Vee

Brooklyn Park – Walgreens store

Eden Prairie – CVS store

Eden Prairie – Walgreens store

Edina – CVS store

Edina – Fairview Pharmacy Edina Physicians Building

Edina – Fairview Southdale Oncology Pharmacy

Edina – Walgreens store

Hopkins – Walgreens store

Maple Grove – CVS store

Maple Grove – Fairview Pharmacy

Maple Grove – Hy-Vee

Maple Grove – North Memorial Health Pharmacy

Minneapolis – Allina Health Heart Hospital Pharmacy

Minneapolis – Allina Health Piper Building Pharmacy 

Minneapolis – Boynton Health Pharmacy, University of Minnesota

Minneapolis – CVS store

Minneapolis – Fairview Pharmacy Riverside

Minneapolis – Fairview Pharmacy Smiley’s Clinic

Minneapolis – Fairview University Discharge

Minneapolis – Fairview Pharmacy University Village

Minneapolis – Fairview Pharmacy University Clinic

Minneapolis – Walgreens store

Minneapolis – Walgreens store

New Hope – CVS store

New Hope – Hy-Vee

Plymouth – Allina Health WestHealth Pharmacy 

Plymouth – CVS store

Plymouth – CVS store

Plymouth – Hy-Vee

Richfield – CVS store

Robbinsdale – CVS store

Robbinsdale – Hy-Vee

Robbinsdale – North Memorial Health Pharmacy

Rogers – CVS store

St. Louis Park – CVS store

St. Louis Park – Methodist Hospital and Pharmacy

What happens to medicines after they are dropped off?

After medicines have been collected they are transported to an incinerator, where they will be destroyed. Incineration is the preferred method of medicine destruction for environmental safety and abuse prevention.

Hennepin County does not provide service to pick up medicines directly from your home. If someone contacts you offering this service, please call your local law enforcement agency.

Disposal in other counties

Many counties in the metro area offer medicine disposal options. Find additional options from the DEA.

Medicine disposal guidelines and materials accepted

Medicine drop boxes operated by independent pharmacies

It is important to check the websites of independent pharmacies before visiting their medicine drop boxes. What medicines are accepted, hours, and box appearance can vary.

Accepted at drop boxes operated by independent pharmacies

Pharmacies may not accept all forms of medication in drop boxes. Learn what medicines are accepted by visiting the sites below.

Medicine drop boxes operated in partnership with Hennepin County

Guidelines

  • Use of the program is free
  • No ID is required
  • Bring medicines in their original containers
  • If the medicine is no longer in the original container, place the medicine in quart-sized plastic bags. To avoid clogging the drop box, please do not bring medicines in gallon-size plastic bags or plastic shopping bags
  • The box is self-serve. Pull the handle to open it and then drop the medicines into the box. Drop the whole container - packaging and pills - into the box.

Accepted at drop boxes operated in partnership with Hennepin County

Medicines from households are accepted, including:

  • Prescription medicines, including Schedule II-V controlled substances (such as Vicodin, Oxycodone, Percocet and Ritalin)
  • Over-the-counter medicines
  • Pet medicines

Medicines are accepted in the following forms:

  • Aerosols
  • Blister packs
  • Capsules
  • Creams
  • Gels
  • Inhalers
  • Liquids
  • Patches
  • Pills
  • Powders

Not accepted at medicine drop boxes

No illegal drugs

  • Schedule I

No needles, sharps or syringes

No vape pens or e-cig devices

No thermometers

No bandages, glucose meters, medical tape or other medical supplies

No empty pill bottles

  • You can recycle your empty pill bottles at home.

No medicines from businesses

  • These include health care facilities, pharmacies, pharmaceutical representatives, doctors' offices and veterinary clinics.

No cosmetics and personal care products

Why is medicine disposal important?

Properly disposing of unused medicines is important

Prevent abuse or poisoning

Storing unused medicines in the home poses safety and health threats.

  • Prescription drug abuse is a growing problem, especially among teens.
  • Accidental poisonings from medicines are also on the rise. Learn more on the MN Poison Control System's website.
  • If you believe that you or someone you know has been poisoned: call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 for further instructions.

Protect the environment

Medicines flushed down the drain or disposed of in the trash can contaminate bodies of water, harm wildlife and end up in drinking water supplies.

Prescription drugs that are most often abused

If unused or unwanted, these are important drugs to remove from your home.

  • Painkillers: Vicodin, Tylenol with codeine, OxyContin, Percocet
  • Depressants: Xanax, Valium, Nembutal
  • Stimulants: Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta

What happens to medicines after they are dropped off?

After medicines have been collected they are transported to an incinerator, where they will be destroyed. Incineration is the preferred method of medicine destruction for environmental safety and abuse prevention.

Hennepin County does not provide service to pick up medicines directly from your home. If someone contacts you offering this service, please call your local law enforcement agency.

Safe medication storage

Approximately 2 million Americans misused prescription pain relievers for the first time during 2016, according to the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Learn how to store medications safely in your home.

Related pages

Hazardous waste from householdschevron_right
Green disposal guidearrow_outward