Pharmaceutical Disposal
Throwing away old medication can pollute our groundwater. The City of Bend makes it easy to safely get rid of unwanted prescription drugs—right from your home and in a way that’s good for the environment.
Throwing away or flushing old or unwanted medications can seriously harm the environment. Wastewater treatment plants can’t filter out the chemicals in these drugs, so they can end up in our groundwater. Plus, keeping leftover drugs at home can be dangerous, leading to accidental poisoning, addiction or abuse.
The City of Bend is offering a free drug deactivation product for at-home use. Deterra, is a drug deactivation system that consists of a plant-based pouch that uses activated charcoal to neutralize the drugs, making them safe for disposal. Just put the unwanted meds in the pouch, add warm tap water, seal it, shake gently, and toss it in the trash. For more details, check out deterrasystem.com.
Free Drug Disposal Pouches and Drop-Off Locations
Pick up a FREE at-home drug disposal pouch at any of these City of Bend* locations:
- City of Bend Water Services Department: Public Works Campus Headquarters, 21051 NE Talus Place, Bend, OR 97701
- City of Bend Water Services Billing Office: 639 NW Franklin Ave, Bend, OR 97703
- City of Bend Police Department Lobby: 555 NE 15th Street, Bend, OR 97701
*Please note that availability of supplies may vary based on demand.
Unable to get a disposal pouch or have a lot of unwanted medications? You can drop them off at one of these locations:
- St. Charles Health System Main Entrance: 2500 NE Neff Road, Bend, OR 97701 (Open: 24/7)
- City of Bend Police Department Lobby: 555 NE 15th Street, Bend, OR 97701 (Open: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
- Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Lobby: 6333 W Highway 20, Bend, OR 97701 (Open: M-F, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.)