Medicine disposal

See a complete list of medicine drop boxes below and be sure to follow safe storage guidelines for your medicines.

Safely dispose of unused medicines at one of the medicine drop boxes in Hennepin County. Drop boxes are operated in partnership with Hennepin County or by independent pharmacies.

Print a medicine disposal program flyer (PDF)

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Drop box locations

There are drop boxes located throughout Hennepin County for residents to dispose of medicines.

Drop box locations

Medicine drop boxes operated in partnership with Hennepin County

These boxes are shown as red squares on the map.

Brooklyn Center – Brooklyn Center Police Department

6645 Humboldt Avenue North, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430

Map to Brooklyn Center Police Department

Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Brooklyn Center – Hennepin County Library/District Court – Brookdale

6125 Shingle Creek Parkway, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430

Map to Brookdale Library

Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.

Brooklyn Park – Police Department

5400 85th Avenue North, Brooklyn Park, MN 55443

Map to Brooklyn Park Police Department

Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Brooklyn Park – Hennepin Healthcare Brooklyn Park Clinic Pharmacy

7650 Zane Avenue North, Brooklyn Park, MN 55443

Map to Brooklyn Park Clinic Pharmacy

Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Crystal – Police Department

4141 Douglas Dr. N, Crystal, MN 55422

Map to Crystal Police Department

‭Hours: 24 hours a day, ‭7 days a week

Golden Valley – Police Department

7800 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, MN 55427

Map to Golden Valley Police Department

Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Maple Grove – Police Department

‭12800 Arbor Lakes Parkway North, Maple Grove, MN 55369

Map to Maple Grove Police Department

‭Hours: 24 hours a day, ‭7 days a week

Minneapolis – Hennepin County Public Safety Facility

401 4th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55415

Map to Public Safety Facility

Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Parking

Parking in downtown Minneapolis is available at street meters, ramps and lots.
Parking at Government Center ramp
Light rail: Government Plaza Station

Minneapolis – Hennepin Healthcare Clinic and Specialty Center

715 8th Street South, Minneapolis, MN 55404 – community pharmacy, 1st floor

Map to clinic

Hours: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Minneapolis – Hennepin Healthcare Shapiro Pharmacy

900 South 8th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55415 – Shapiro Building, Lower Level

Map to Shapiro Pharmacy

Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Minneapolis – Hennepin Healthcare St. Anthony Village Clinic Pharmacy

2714 Highway 88, Minneapolis, MN 55418

Map to St. Anthony Village Clinic Pharmacy

Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Closed daily 12:30 to 1 p.m.

Minneapolis – Hennepin Healthcare Whittier Clinic and Pharmacy

2810 Nicollet Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55408

Map to Whittier Clinic

Hours: Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Minneapolis – Police Department, 1st Precinct

19 4th Street North, Minneapolis, MN 55401

Map to 1st Precinct

Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Minneapolis – NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center

2220 Plymouth Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55411

Map to NorthPoint

Hours: Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Minnetonka – Hennepin County District Court – Ridgedale

12601 Ridgedale Drive, Minnetonka, MN 55305

Map to Ridgedale

Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, noon - 5 p.m.

Osseo – Police Department

415 Central Avenue, Osseo, MN 55369

Map to Osseo Police Department

Hours: Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday 7:30–11:30 a.m.

Plymouth – Hennepin County Sheriff’s Patrol Headquarters

1345 Shenandoah Ln N Plymouth, MN 55447

Map to patrol headquarters

Hours: Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Richfield – Hennepin Healthcare Richfield Clinic and Pharmacy

790 66th Street West, Richfield, MN 55423 – located in Market Plaza

Map to Richfield Clinic

Hours: Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 8:30 a.m. to noon.

Rogers – Police Department

21860 Industrial Court, Rogers, MN 55374

Map to Rogers Police Department

Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Spring Park – Hennepin County Sheriff’s Water Patrol

4141 Shoreline Drive, Spring Park, MN 55384

Map to Water Patrol

Hours: Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

St. Anthony – Police Department

3301 Silver Lake Rd, St. Anthony, MN 55418

Map to St. Anthony Police Department

Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

St. Louis Park – Police Department

3015 Raleigh Avenue South, St. Louis Park, MN 55416

Map to St. Louis Park Police Department

Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Medicine drop boxes operated by independent pharmacies*

These boxes are shown as yellow triangles on the map.

*It is important to check the websites of independent pharmacies before visiting their medicine drop boxes. What medicines are accepted, hours, and box appearance can vary.

Bloomington – CVS store

Bloomington – Fairview Pharmacy

Bloomington – Walgreens store

Brooklyn Center – CVS store

Brooklyn Park – CVS store

Brooklyn Park – Hy-Vee

Brooklyn Park – Walgreens store

Eden Prairie – CVS store

Eden Prairie – Walgreens store

Edina – CVS store

Edina – Fairview Pharmacy Edina Physicians Building

Edina – Fairview Southdale Oncology Pharmacy

Edina – Walgreens store

Hopkins – Walgreens store

Maple Grove – CVS store

Maple Grove – Fairview Pharmacy

Maple Grove – Hy-Vee

Maple Grove – North Memorial Health Pharmacy

Minneapolis – Allina Health Heart Hospital Pharmacy

920 28^th Street East (Suite 92005), Minneapolis, MN 55407 – located on the Abbott Northwestern Hospital Campus
Learn about the Allina medicine take-back program.

Minneapolis – Allina Health Phillips Eye Institute Pharmacy

Minneapolis – Allina Health Piper Building Pharmacy

913 26^th Street East (1^st Floor Piper Building), Minneapolis, MN 55404 – located on the Abbott Northwestern Hospital Campus
Learn about the Allina medicine take-back program.

Minneapolis – Boynton Health Pharmacy, University of Minnesota

Minneapolis – CVS store

Minneapolis – Fairview Pharmacy Riverside

Minneapolis – Fairview Pharmacy Smiley’s Clinic

Minneapolis – Fairview University Discharge

Minneapolis – Fairview Pharmacy University Village

Minneapolis – Fairview Pharmacy University Clinic

Minneapolis – Walgreens store

New Hope – CVS store

New Hope – Hy-Vee

Plymouth – Allina Health WestHealth Pharmacy

2855 Campus Drive, Plymouth, MN 55441 – located in the main lobby of Abbott Northwestern – WestHealth
Learn about the Allina medicine take-back program.

Plymouth – CVS store

Plymouth – Hy-Vee

Richfield – CVS store

Robbinsdale – CVS store

Robbinsdale – Hy-Vee

Robbinsdale – North Memorial Health Pharmacy

Rogers – CVS store

St. Louis Park – CVS store

St. Louis Park – Methodist Hospital and Pharmacy

6500 Excelsior Blvd, St. Louis Park, MN 55426 – inside the pharmacy waiting room
Learn more about Fairview pharmacies medicine take-back program.

What happens to medicines after they are dropped off?

After medicines have been collected they are transported to an incinerator, where they will be destroyed. Incineration is the preferred method of medicine destruction for environmental safety and abuse prevention.

Hennepin County does not provide service to pick up medicines directly from your home. If someone contacts you offering this service, please call your local law enforcement agency.

Disposal in other counties

Many counties in the metro area offer medicine disposal options. Find additional options from the DEA.

Medicine disposal guidelines and materials accepted

Medicine drop boxes operated by independent pharmacies

It is important to check the websites of independent pharmacies before visiting their medicine drop boxes. What medicines are accepted, hours, and box appearance can vary.

Accepted at drop boxes operated by independent pharmacies

Pharmacies may not accept all forms of medication in drop boxes. Learn what medicines are accepted by visiting the sites below.

Medicine drop boxes operated in partnership with Hennepin County

Guidelines

Use of the program is free
No ID is required
Bring medicines in their original containers
If the medicine is no longer in the original container, place the medicine in quart-sized plastic bags. To avoid clogging the drop box, please do not bring medicines in gallon-size plastic bags or plastic shopping bags
The box is self-serve. Pull the handle to open it and then drop the medicines into the box. Drop the whole container — packaging and pills — into the box.

Accepted at drop boxes operated in partnership with Hennepin County

Medicines from households are accepted, including:

Prescription medicines, including Schedule II-V controlled substances (such as Vicodin, Oxycodone, Percocet and Ritalin)
Over-the-counter medicines
Pet medicines

Medicines are accepted in the following forms:

Aerosols
Blister packs
Capsules
Creams
Gels
Inhalers
Liquids
Patches
Pills
Powders

Not accepted at medicine drop boxes

No illegal drugs

Schedule I

No bandages, glucose meters, medical tape or other medical supplies

No empty pill bottles

You can recycle your empty pill bottles at home.

No medicines from businesses

These include health care facilities, pharmacies, pharmaceutical representatives, doctors’ offices and veterinary clinics.

See information about managing business hazardous waste.

No cosmetics and personal care products

Why is medicine disposal important?

Properly disposing of unused medicines is important

Prevent abuse or poisoning

Storing unused medicines in the home poses safety and health threats.

Prescription drug abuse is a growing problem, especially among teens.
Accidental poisonings from medicines are also on the rise. Learn more on the MN Poison Control System's website.
If you believe that you or someone you know has been poisoned: call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 for further instructions.

Protect the environment

Medicines flushed down the drain or disposed of in the trash can contaminate bodies of water, harm wildlife and end up in drinking water supplies.

Prescription drugs that are most often abused

If unused or unwanted, these are important drugs to remove from your home.

Painkillers: Vicodin, Tylenol with codeine, OxyContin, Percocet
Depressants: Xanax, Valium, Nembutal
Stimulants: Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta

What happens to medicines after they are dropped off?

Hennepin County does not provide service to pick up medicines directly from your home. If someone contacts you offering this service, please call your local law enforcement agency.

Safe medication storage

Approximately 2 million Americans misused prescription pain relievers for the first time during 2016, according to the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Learn how to store medications safely in your home.

Drug take back events

Saturday, April 27, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is a program of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) held twice a year to collect unwanted and unneeded medications. Collecting these medications prevents them from falling into the wrong hands and helps to decrease drug-related violence.

Locations

Walgreens Plymouth, 4005 Vinewood Ln., Plymouth, MN
Walgreens Minneapolis, 4547 Hiawatha Ave., Minneapolis, MN
Walgreens Edina, 6975 York Ave., Edina, MN
Walgreens Maple Grove, 16750 County Road 30, Maple Grove, MN

The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office hosts Take Back Day events around Hennepin County at rotating locations.

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Drop box locations

Medicine drop boxes operated in partnership with Hennepin County

Brooklyn Center – Brooklyn Center Police Department

Brooklyn Center – Hennepin County Library/District Court – Brookdale

Brooklyn Park – Police Department

Brooklyn Park – Hennepin Healthcare Brooklyn Park Clinic Pharmacy

Crystal – Police Department

Golden Valley – Police Department

Maple Grove – Police Department

Minneapolis – Hennepin County Public Safety Facility

Parking

Minneapolis – Hennepin Healthcare Clinic and Specialty Center

Minneapolis – Hennepin Healthcare Shapiro Pharmacy

Minneapolis – Hennepin Healthcare St. Anthony Village Clinic Pharmacy

Minneapolis – Hennepin Healthcare Whittier Clinic and Pharmacy

Minneapolis – Police Department, 1st Precinct

Minneapolis – NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center

Minnetonka – Hennepin County District Court – Ridgedale

Osseo – Police Department

Plymouth – Hennepin County Sheriff’s Patrol Headquarters

Richfield – Hennepin Healthcare Richfield Clinic and Pharmacy

Rogers – Police Department

Spring Park – Hennepin County Sheriff’s Water Patrol

St. Anthony – Police Department

St. Louis Park – Police Department

Medicine drop boxes operated by independent pharmacies*

Bloomington – CVS store

Bloomington – Fairview Pharmacy

Bloomington – Walgreens store

Brooklyn Center – CVS store

Brooklyn Park – CVS store

Brooklyn Park – Hy-Vee

Brooklyn Park – Walgreens store

Eden Prairie – CVS store

Eden Prairie – Walgreens store

Edina – CVS store

Edina – Fairview Pharmacy Edina Physicians Building

Edina – Fairview Southdale Oncology Pharmacy

Edina – Walgreens store

Hopkins – Walgreens store

Maple Grove – CVS store

Maple Grove – Fairview Pharmacy

Maple Grove – Hy-Vee

Maple Grove – North Memorial Health Pharmacy

Minneapolis – Allina Health Heart Hospital Pharmacy

Minneapolis – Allina Health Phillips Eye Institute Pharmacy

Minneapolis – Allina Health Piper Building Pharmacy

Minneapolis – Boynton Health Pharmacy, University of Minnesota

Minneapolis – CVS store

Minneapolis – CVS store

Minneapolis – Fairview Pharmacy Riverside

Minneapolis – Fairview Pharmacy Smiley’s Clinic

Minneapolis – Fairview University Discharge

Minneapolis – Fairview Pharmacy University Village

Minneapolis – Fairview Pharmacy University Clinic

Minneapolis – Walgreens store

Minneapolis – Walgreens store

New Hope – CVS store

New Hope – Hy-Vee

Plymouth – Allina Health WestHealth Pharmacy

Plymouth – CVS store

Plymouth – Hy-Vee

Richfield – CVS store

Robbinsdale – CVS store

Robbinsdale – Hy-Vee

Robbinsdale – North Memorial Health Pharmacy

Rogers – CVS store

St. Louis Park – CVS store

St. Louis Park – Methodist Hospital and Pharmacy

What happens to medicines after they are dropped off?

Disposal in other counties

Medicine drop boxes operated by independent pharmacies

Accepted at drop boxes operated by independent pharmacies

Medicine drop boxes operated in partnership with Hennepin County

Guidelines

Accepted at drop boxes operated in partnership with Hennepin County

Not accepted at medicine drop boxes

No illegal drugs

No needles, sharps or syringes

No vape pens or e-cig devices