Got unwanted or expired prescription drugs lying around the house? Here’s a chance for a little responsible spring cleaning. The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has scheduled a National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 25.
“For more than a decade, the event has helped Americans easily rid their homes of unneeded medications—those that are old, unwanted, or expired—that too often become a gateway to addiction,” the California-based recycler EDCO writes in a release announcing the day. On Take Back Day free and anonymous disposal of unwanted medications will be available at nearly 4,200 local drop-off locations nationwide.
Now in its 30th iteration, the twice yearly Take Back Day has collected 9,600 tons of unwanted medications over its history, starting in 2010. The last Take Back Day, in October 2025, had 4,317 collection sites, where 286 tons of material was collected.
According to the EPA, “take-back programs offer a safe and environmentally protective way to dispose of unwanted household medicines.”
The goals of the program are twofold, says the agency. The first is to combat the opioid crisis by preventing unwanted medications from falling into the wrong hands. The second is to keep prescription drugs out of ground and surface water through improper disposal (such as flushing down the toilet).
A DEA spokesperson explained via e-mail to Resource Recycling that all collected medications are “handled in a controlled and secure way.” They added, “After medications are dropped off at a collection site, law enforcement agencies coordinate with DEA, which handles transportation to specialized facilities across the country for incineration.”
“The Take Back Day is a critical public safety initiative and by removing unused, unwanted, or expired medications from homes reduces the risk of prescription misuse, accidental poisonings, and overdose,” the spokesperson added. “This simple action saves lives.”
On Saturday, people should know that syringes, sharps or illegal drugs are not accepted. Pills, capsules and patches are accepted. Special care should be taken with liquids to make sure they don’t leak.
For more information and to find a collection site near you, visit DEATakeBack.com. If you miss the day you can find year-round drop off locations here.
“I encourage everyone with excess prescription drugs to participate in DEA’s National Take Back Day and help prevent drug abuse and protect our children,” National Drug Control Policy Director Sara Carter said in a statement. “Our nation is safer and healthier when we keep prescription pills from falling into the wrong hands.”
