Accepted at the Whatcom County Disposal of Toxics

Over-the-counter medications

Vitamins

Inhalers

EpiPens (unopened)

Accepted at Pharmacies

Prescription medications

Medications for pets

Medicated ointments/lotions

Medication samples

ThermometersIV bags or bloody/ infectious waste

Personal care products (e.g., unmedicated shampoo)

Hydrogen peroxide/other chemicals

Aerosol cans (not inhalers)

Needles/syringes

EpiPens (used)

Not Accepted

Whatcom County Disposal of Toxics 3505 Airport Dr., Bellingham, WA

360-380-4640www.co.whatcom.wa.us/publicworks/

solidwaste/hazard/toxics.jsp

• Mineral oil • Non-alkaline batteries • Hearing aid batteries• Glucose meters

Residential sharps and biomedical waste

City of Bellingham Pharmaceuticals Take-Back Program

Bellingham Police Department505 Grand Ave., Bellingham, WA

(360) 778-8800www.cob.org/police

Bellingham residents may bring narcotic painkillers and prescribed controlled substances to the Bellingham Police Department’s reception during weekday lobby hours. Hours are posted on the lobby doors and online at www.cob.org/police.

No glass or metal containers accepted

Narcotic painkillers,* prescribed controlled substances

*Not including illegal narcoticsExamples include:Codeine, Xanax, Valium, Hydrocodone, Ambien, Vicodin, OxyContin, Percocet, Ritalin, etc.

Accepted at the Bellingham Police Department

See list of participating pharmacies on back.

Mercury products (e.g., Mercurochrome, Thimerosal, Merthiolate)

Pharmaceutical products accepted at the Whatcom County Disposal of Toxics:

For full list of accepted items, contact:

• Business waste• Empty containers

Whatcom County Health Department509 Girard St., Bellingham, WA

(360) 676-6724www.co.whatcom.wa.us/health/

environmental/biomedwaste/handling.jsp

For disposal instructions, contact:

Not Accepted

Drop-Off Locations

Program Information360-778-7700

www.cob.org/environment

Haggen Fairhaven Market 1401 12th St.

Barkley Haggen Pharmacy 2900 Woburn St.

Meridian Haggen Pharmacy2814 Meridian St.

Hoagland Pharmacy2330 Yew St.

Bellingham Police Department*505 Grand Ave.

* Accepts only narcotic painkillers and prescribed controlled substances

When residents dispose of medicines in the toilet or sink, these contaminants are passed on to municipal wastewater treatment systems or septic systems. Many pharmaceuticals cannot be effectively removed by these systems and have been measured in wastewater discharge. Low levels of several pharmaceuticals have been documented in surface water, groundwater, drinking water, marine waters, soils, and sediments.

Prescription drug abuse is a serious and growing problem in our communities. Abuse of medicines is increasing rapidly, with serious consequences. Drug overdoses have surpassed car accidents as the leading cause of accidental deaths in Washington.

Prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs and supplements are involved in more than half of unintentional child poisoning incidents. In 2004, the Washington Poison Center received 69,000 calls about possible poisonous exposures to humans. More than 90% of those calls were related to poisonings in the home. Fifty-two percent of the incidents involved children under six.

For Our Waters

For Our Children

For Our Community

Thank you for correctly disposing of your unwanted medications. Your efforts help prevent abuse of medications and reduce the risks of accidental poisonings.

Why?

Keeping unused, unwanted and expired medications in your home poses a risk to you, your family and your community. When disposed of improperly, medications can still be obtained for illegal use or can contaminate our waters.

To provide you with an easy, secure and responsible way to properly dispose of medications, the City of Bellingham is partnering with local pharmacies to establish a Pharmaceuticals Take-Back Program.

City of Bellingham

Pharmaceuticals Take-Back Program

of your homes, of your waters

and of the reach of children

Get UnwantedMeds ut...

Funding for this project has been provided in part through a grant from the US EPA.

1. Gather all unwanted medication from drawers, medicine cabinets, etc. Leave items in their original containers.

2. Check the list to see which locations accept each item.

3. Bring accepted items to a participating location.

• Your items will be quickly screened to

make sure they don’t include items that cannot be accepted.

• No questions will be asked. Personal information will NOT be collected.

• A marker will be provided for you to cover your name on the prescription bottle. Do not cover the name of the medication.

4. Place the items into the secure double-

locked collection box.

Instructions