Safe Medication and Sharps Disposal Event
October 7, 2025
Safe Medication and Sharps Disposal
Date: October 7, 2025
Location #1: Ingalls Mall E Washington St. – across from Rackham Auditorium
Location #2: University of Michigan Health System: Triangle area between University Hospital, Mott Children’s Hospital, and Taubman Health Care Center
Event Information:
The Safe Medication Disposal Event is held by the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, during which unused and expired medications are collected for environmentally safe disposal. Students have collected almost two tons of medication, keeping potentially harmful substances out of our water, landfills, and the wrong hands. We now accept sharps and sharps containers. The event will be held at two locations simultaneously.
Accepted Items
- Prescription & OTC Medications
- Medication samples
- Vitamins
- Ointments & lotions
- Inhalers
- Antibiotics, steroids, veterinary medicine
- Controlled medications
- Sharps and sharps containers
- Unaccepted Items
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Cosmetics
- Hair care products
- Personal hygiene products
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Rubbing alcohol
- Aerosol cans
- Blood or infectious waste
- Tobacco
- Cancer Medication Donation
- Unused and unopened cancer medications can be donated and provided to someone in need year-round, thanks to the YesRx network. Learn more here.
Can’t make it? Consider these options.
Many of our local community pharmacies offer disposal kiosks, where individual can bring unwanted, unused, or expired medications for drop off. Talk to your community pharmacist about what is accepted at their location.
Sometimes getting to the pharmacy can be a challenge. There are in-home medication disposal options available such as DisposeRx and Deterra. These options both safely deactivate drugs, allowing individuals to safely throw away medications without future environmental contamination.
Other Events:
Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA) holds a medication disposal event each year in conjunction with the MPA and Michigan Pharmacy Political Action Council (PAC) Pharmacy Day at the Capitol event. The public is invited to safely dispose of unused, unwanted or expired medications, including controlled substances.
National DEA Drug Take Back Day, Typically the last Saturday in October and April
Upcoming Events
March, 2025
CoP at the U-M Health and Medical School Expo
CoP at U-M Health and Medical School Expo Event Information: Join the College of Pharmacy’s recruitment team at the U-M Health and Medical School Expo to learn more about our academic programs!
March, 2025
CoP at Great Lakes Pharmacy Conference
CoP at Great Lakes Pharmacy Conference Event Information: Join the College of Pharmacy’s recruitment team at CoP at the Great Lakes Pharmacy Conference to learn more about our PharmD program and world-class research!
March, 2025
Clinical Pharmacy Seminar: Macarius Donneyong, PhD
Department: Clinical Pharmacy Speaker: Macarius Donneyong, PhD, Associate Professor, Ohio State University, College of Pharmacy