Residents of Washington, including those in King County, are being encouraged to safely dispose of expired or unwanted medications through the Washington Safe Medication Return Program. The initiative aims to prevent poisonings, reduce the risk of overdose, and keep harmful substances out of the environment.
The disposal event is scheduled for April 4 at 5:00 PM and offers convenient options for residents, including drop-off kiosks located across the state and free prepaid mail-back envelopes. The program is designed to make safe medication disposal accessible and environmentally responsible for both household and pet medications.
Participants are advised to keep certain items such as liquids, inhalers, patches, gels, and ointments in their original containers. Pills and powders can be mixed together in a sealed container or bag. Medication-containing devices are accepted; however, needles, syringes, and similar injection devices are not accepted at kiosks and must be disposed of using injector mailers.
The Safe Medication Return Program is managed by trusted providers including Inmar Intelligence and MED-Project. Residents can locate drop-off sites or request free mail-back supplies by visiting medtakebackwashington.org or calling 844-4-TAKE-BACK (844-482-5322). Additional information is available through the Washington State Department of Health.