MedDrop Prescription Drug Disposal

Leftover and expired prescriptions and over-the-counter medication can be found in every household in Dane County. MedDrop is the best and safest place to dispose of those potentially fatal items. The UW-Madison Police Department, in partnership with Safe Communities, is proud to offer a MedDrop box in our lobby — available to any member of our community 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

How to Use MedDrop

To dispose of medications in our MedDrop box, please place all unused or expired medication in a Ziploc or other resealable bag, and place the bag(s) into the dropbox. If you don’t have your own resealable bag, you’ll find bags next to our dropbox that you’re welcome to use.

Please leave liquids, gels, or creams in their original containers and place them in a storage bag.

Illegal drugs cannot be disposed of in the MedDrop box.

Click here for a list of other MedDrop locations in Dane County.

If You Can’t Travel to a MedDrop Box

MedDrop is the best way to dispose of medicines or pharmaceuticals. If you’re unable to travel to a MedDrop box, do not flush your unused pharmaceuticals. Instead, dispose of them in the trash — especially when there is a risk of accidental poisoning, overdose, or diversion. When placing unused pharmaceuticals in the trash, be sure to:

• Remove or black-out all labels that identify the medication. Be sure to also remove or conceal any personal information about you, including prescription information that someone could try to refill
• Render them unattractive to children and thieves by dissolving the medication in a small amount of water or alcohol, or by grinding them up and mixing them with coffee grounds or kitty litter
• Put the medication in a second container or small plastic bag and hide them in your trash