Medicines

Handling Instructions

Please don't flush old medications down the drain! Wastewater treatment facilities are not able to remove many of the chemicals that make up pharmaceutical products. Fish don't want to take your pills.

So if I can't put meds down the drain, what should I do with them?

County staff recently set up a new program specifically designed for unwanted household medications. Called "Operation Medicine Cabinet," this program is available at each of the Sheriff's nine substations throughout the County. Gather up all unwanted medications -- both prescription and over-the-counter -- and deposit them in the drop-boxes located at the substations. They look very similar to mail boxes (but don't try to put your Mother's Day cards in them!).

Find the closest location below or download our Operation Medicine Cabinet brochure here.

What about Controlled Substances?

Some prescription drugs are highly regulated, so only the sherrif's office locations can accept Controlled Substances. See the Controlled Substance page for details.

Please note that some of the locations below accept medicines and other hazardous wastes but not controlled substances.

Can I also drop off my needles at the Sheriff's substations?

NO! The drop-boxes are not designed to accept any "sharps." Please see our Sharps Disposal page for local collection sites.

What about disposal at hazardous waste collection centers?

Some household hazardous waste facilities will accept certain types of medications; however, they are not permitted to collect "controlled substances." Controlled substances are regulated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and include addictive and habit-forming medications like pain killers and anti-depressants. Check out our Controlled Substances page for more info.

Where to go

• All of Santa Barbara County (1)

  • Safety Kleen — 5310 Overpass Road

• Carpinteria Area (1)

  • Sheriffs Department, Carpinteria Substation — 5775 Carpinteria Avenue

• Santa Barbara Area (2)

  • *Community Hazardous Waste Collection Center — University of California, Environmental Health and Safety Building, Building 565, Mesa Road
  • Sheriffs Department, Santa Barbara Substation — 4434 Calle Real

• Goleta & UCSB Area (3)

  • *Community Hazardous Waste Collection Center — University of California, Environmental Health and Safety Building, Building 565, Mesa Road
  • Sheriffs Department, Isla Vista Substation — 6504 Trigo Road
  • Sheriffs Department, Goleta Substation — 7042 Marketplace Drive

• Santa Ynez Valley (2)

  • Sheriffs Department, Buellton Substation — 140 West Highway 246
  • Sheriffs Department, Solvang Substation — 1745 Mission Drive

• Lompoc Valley & VAFB (2)

  • City of Lompoc Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility — 1585 N. "V" St
  • Sheriffs Department, Lompoc Substation — 3500 Harris Grade Road

• Santa Maria Valley (2)

  • Medical Waste Environmental Engineers — 702 South Depot
  • Sheriffs Department, Santa Maria Substation — 812-A West Foster Road

• Cuyama Valley (1)

  • Sheriffs Department, New Cuyama Substation — 215 Newsome Street

• Outside Santa Barbara County (8)

  • Asbury Environmental Services — 2100 North Alameda Street
  • BGI — 527 North Rice Avenue
  • C.J. Seto Support Services, LLC — 2300 Knoll Dr, Unit G
  • Clean Harbors, Inc. — 880 W Verdulera St
  • Earth911.com - Information Only — 14646 N. Kierland Blvd., Suite 100
  • Industrial Waste Utilization — 5601 State Street
  • Stericycle, Incorporated
  • XMED Medical Waste Disposal, Inc — 2126 Metro Circle