Medication
Twice a year, the last Saturdays of April and October, every MPD station and several libraries take anything from 10 to 2, no questions. In between, pharmacy kiosks at a few CVS and Walgreens locations take pills year-round; call first, the list drifts. Never bring medicine to the city's hazardous-waste day. If nothing else works, mix pills with coffee grounds, seal the bag, and trash it; the label comes off the bottle before the bottle gets recycled.
Last verified October 2026
Updated Friday, October 30, 2026 · real listings, pulled from 130+ sources and reviewed by a person.
Drop it off · 2
NOT accepted: needles, sharps, illicit drugs.
free · You bring it · none · Hazardous-waste processing · Last verified October 2026
- Where
- All 7 MPD district stations: 1D 101 M St SW; 2D 3320 Idaho Ave NW; 3D 1620 V St NW; 4D 6001 Georgia Ave NW; 5D 1805 Bladensburg Rd NE; 6D 5002 Hayes St NE; 7D 2455 Alabama Ave SE. Also libraries (Mt Pleasant 3160 16th St NW, MLK 901 G St NW, Cleveland Park 3310 Connecticut Ave NW, Southwest 900 Wesley Pl SW, Benning 3935 Benning Rd NE, Anacostia 1800 Marion Barry Ave SE) and some DCHA senior buildings
- When
- Twice a year, last Saturday of April and October, 10am–2pm. Next: Sat Oct 24, 2026
DC Health PDF is undated and kiosks move (CVS/Walgreens closures 2024–26) — call before going. The catch: Typically no sharps, no aerosols, no illicit drugs; liquids often excluded.
$0 · You bring it · immediate · Hazardous-waste processing · Last verified October 2026
- Where
- CVS 6 Dupont Circle NW 20036; CVS 6514 Georgia Ave NW 20012; CVS 320 40th St NE 20019; Walgreens 1155 F St NW 20004; Walgreens 801 7th St NW 20001; Walgreens 1217 22nd St NW 20037; Kaiser 2301 M St NW; MedStar Georgetown 3800 Reservoir Rd NW; MedStar WHC 106 Irving St NW
- When
- pharmacy hours
Who refuses medication
- Special Waste Collection — NOT accepted: medicine, needles/sharps, ammunition/explosives (go to police), tires (Ft Totten), ACs/microwaves/any appliances (Ft Totten or 311 bulk), business waste.
- Humane Rescue Alliance — REFUSES pillows, down comforters, fitted sheets, human or pet clothing, stuffed or memory-foam pet beds, newspaper, medications, retractable leashes.
Other things to get rid of
Baby and kids' gear · Batteries, bulbs · Bike · Books · Clothes, shoes, linens · Computer, tablet · Doors, tile, lumber · Fridge, stove, AC · Mattress · Paint, chemicals · Papers to shred · Phone · Records, instruments · Sofa, chairs, table, dresser · Sports gear · Toys · TV