How to Return Unwanted Medicines


  1. Gather your expired or unused prescriptions and over-the-counter medications (including liquids).
  2. Keep them in their original containers. Mark out all personal information, but do not mark out the name of the medicine!
  3. Bring the medications to Greenbrier Medical Arts Pharmacy on Rt. 219 North in Lewisburg for free and safe disposal.
  4. Controlled substances or pharmaceutical waste from any other source besides households (i.e. clinics, pharmacies, hospitals) will not be accepted.

Items We Accept for Disposal

  • Prescription medications (except controlled)*
  • All over-the-counter medications
  • Medication samples
  • Vitamins and supplements
  • Ointments, lotions and creams
  • Liquid medication in original, leakproof containers
  • Homeopathic remedies
  • Pet medications
  • Suppositories
  • Inhalers

Items We CANNOT Accept

  • Controlled prescriptions (e.g. narcotics, vicodin, ritalin, codeine, lortab, oxycodone, valium, etc.)
  • IV bags or infectious waste
  • Personal care products
  • Thermometers
  • No pharmaceutical waste from any other source besides households (e.g. clinics, pharmacies, hospitals)
  • Needles and sharps
  • Aerosol cans

About Controlled Substances from Households

Although we cannot accept controlled substances for disposal, unused or expired controlled medications should be discarded in a way that ensures you protect children and pets from potentially negative effects. TAKE ACTION NOW! When prescription and OTC medications are abused, they can lead to dangerous drug interactions or other serious medical consequences, including death. Please properly destroy unused narcotics and if you take prescription narcotics, secure them in a safe or locked drawer.


Proper home disposal for controlled substances

  1. Pour medication into a sealable plastic bag. If medication is a solid (pill, capsule, etc.), crush it or add a small amount of water to dissolve it.
  2. Add used coffee grounds, kitty litter or sawdust to the plastic bag.
  3. Seal the plastic bag and put it in the trash.
  4. Remove and destroy ALL identifying personal information (prescription label) from all medication containers before recycling them or throwing them away.