Proper Disposal Programs
The laws governing the handling of prescription drugs are stringent. Take-back collection programs are legal only under the jurisdiction of law enforcement agencies that have received approval from the federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and only for households.
Currently in Utah, there is no uniform take-back system for clinics, hospitals, care centers or even doctor’s offices.
Currently in Utah there are two types of formal collection options:
- At law enforcement agencies, or
- At household hazardous waste collection events with law enforcement officials present.
There are also specialty "one-time" collection events, which will be announced as they are scheduled.
Law Enforcement Collection Locations
Law enforcement agency “Drug Collection for Proper Disposal Programs” exists in several Utah counties. The Salt Lake City Police Department and the Salt Lake County Sherriff’s Office 
took a strong leadership role and were first to establish proper disposal programs for their residents by installing locked, mounted steel collection bins in the lobbies of their stations. However, many other agencies have started programs or applied for grant assistance in Davis, Utah, Uintah, and Washington counties. You can find law enforcement agency collection locations here.
Each agency collects and processes the drugs using their evidence department and protocols, which include destruction of the drugs through incineration. These programs have proven successful and can be replicated in other communities as a way to further protect public health and the environment. Limited funding for Law Enforcement Agencies is available to establish a “Drug Collection for Proper Disposal” program. Click here for more information.
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events
Salt Lake Valley Health Department and Recycle Utah, Park City sponsor household hazardous waste community collection events and have expanded these events to include unused medications. Again because of the strict laws governing prescription medications, law enforcement officers are present at these events to collect medications and process them through their evidence department and protocols, which include destruction of the drugs through incineration.
Click here for more information on the location of these collection events.
Additional Links and Resources
- Pharmaceutical Waste Management - Issues and Options for Health Systems
- Managing Pharmaceutical Waste: A Discussion Guide for Health-System Pharmacists
* Note: Some of the files on this page require the Adobe Acrobat Reader.