Safely store and dispose of your prescriptions

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Safely storing and disposing of your prescription medications helps keep family, friends, kids and pets in your home safe from accidental or purposeful ingestion.

Also, flushing medications or tossing them in the trash is a danger to our waterways and wildlife.

Vermont makes it easy to store and get rid of your unused medication.

lock
Secure medications in a locked bag or out of reach from kids and pets.
Order a FREE lock bag
Drop
Drop off unused medication at a FREE kiosk.
Find a kiosk near you
Mail
Mail unused medication in a free envelope.
Order a FREE mail-back envelope

National Prescription Drug Take Back Days

Every spring and fall, you can participate in National Prescription Drug Take Back Days, which provides a safe, convenient and responsible way to dispose of prescription and over-the-counter medications. Find participating Take Back Day locations

Join us for the next Take Back Day on Saturday, October 25, 2025!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do disposal kiosks and mail-back envelopes work?
  1. Gather unwanted or expired medication from your home
  2. Remove or obscure personal information from containers
  3. Place prescription directly into kiosk or into a mail-back envelope. You do not need to remove the medication packaging.
  4. Do not place loose pills or other mediations directly in kiosk. If needed, place pills in a clear zippered bag.
  5. Bring your mail-back envelope to your local USPS kiosk or office. Postage is prepaid.
What can I dispose of at kiosk or mail-back envelopes?
  • Prescription medications
  • Over-the-counter medications
  • Medicated ointments and lotions
  • Liquid medications
  • Pet medications
  • Vitamins

Materials accepted at kiosks vary by location. 

What can’t I dispose of at kiosk or mail-back envelopes?
  • Illegal Controlled Substances
  • Sharps (syringes/needles) are not accepted at all locations

Learn how to safely dispose of a found needle.

Materials accepted at kiosks vary by location. 

What does it cost to use kiosks or mail-back envelopes?

Disposing of medications using kiosks or mail-back envelopes is free! 

Mail-back envelopes are free to order and postage is prepaid, so shipping the envelopes back is also free!

How do you participate as a law enforcement agency, pharmacy, hospital, long-term care facility or community organization?
  • Contact us to participate in the law enforcement drug disposal pilot project.
  • Contact us to have a permanent drug disposal kiosk in your pharmacy, hospital or long-term care facility.
  • Contact us if you would like to provide free mail-back envelopes to your patrons.

Translated Documents

Mail-Back Envelope Instructions in: العربیة (Arabic) | Bosanski (Bosnian) | မြန်မာစာ (Burmese) | 繁體中文 (Chinese-Traditional) | 简体字 (Chinese - Simplified) | دری (Dari) | English | Français (French) | Hindi | Kirundi | Lingala | नेपाली (Nepali) | پښتو (Pashto) | Soomaali (Somali) | Español (Spanish) | Kiswahili (Swahili) | Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)

Additional Resources

Safely dispose of a found needle
Find where you can get naloxone (Narcan® nasal spray)
Get help at VT Helplink

Contact Us

Substance Use Programs (DSU)

Vermont Department of Health
280 State Drive
Waterbury, VT 05671-8340

802-651-1550
[email protected]