Every day is take back day in Nebraska, and we make it easy. Simply bring your expired or unused prescription or over-the-counter medication to a participating pharmacy for safe disposal.
Search your home for expired and unused medication
Locate a safe disposal location in your area
Take them to a participating medication disposal pharmacy
Leftover medication poses a major risk to our communities. If not disposed of properly, it can seriously harm not only our children and families, but also our environment. Leftover medication often ends up in our beloved waterways or in the wrong hands, leading to accidental poisoning and overdoses.
We work with around 300 pharmacies across Nebraska where anyone can properly dispose of their unused or expired medication. There’s no catch—it’s 100% free for both pharmacies and consumers to participate. Nebraska is one of the first states to start a program like this, and we’re proud to raise awareness about this critical resource.
(2016 - August 2024)
Go through your home and gather expired or unused prescriptions and over-the-counter medications. There’s no need to separate them from their container—disposal is 100% confidential.
Pet medications
Prescription medications
Pills, tablets, and capsules
Over-the-counter medications
Creams, lotions, and ointments
Liquid medications less than 4 ounces
Thermometers
Needles, syringes, and lancets
Rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide
Liquid medications greater than 4 ounces
Medical equipment and home-based care supplies
The pharmacy staff will separate the medications by controlled and non-controlled. They will place the non-controlled and over-the-counter medications in their proper drug disposal container. The pharmacy staff will provide you with a prepaid postage envelope for the controlled medications. Place them in the envelope, seal the envelope, and then drop it off in the nearest U.S. mailbox. Take this time to talk to the pharmacy staff and ask questions about your medications. If you did not finish one of your prescriptions due to a drug interaction or side effect, ask them to update your pharmacy record accordingly.
Improperly disposing of your unused or expired medications can harm the environment. When flushed, put down the drain, or thrown in the trash, over-the-counter and prescription medications can contaminate landfills and water supplies. Sadly, most water treatment facilities don’t have the capacity to remove these emerging contaminants.
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