Medication Disposal

medication boxThe Hendersonville Police Department, Henderson County Sheriff's Office and Laurel Park Police Department provide the public with free, environmentally safe and convenient ways to dispose of unwanted, unused or expired medications.

Although most medications can be disposed of through these local medication drop box programs, there are a few items that cannot be accepted.

These items ARE accepted:

Prescription pills, prescription patches, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, samples, medications for pets.

These items ARE NOT accepted:

Sharps, needles, Epi-pens, radioactive medications, chemotherapy medications, aerosols, liquids, and ointments.

Please keep medications in their original containers when transporting them to a medication disposal box. Personnel at the drop off sites will provide zip lock bags and instructions for disposal.

Medication Dropbox Locations:

Hendersonville (NC) Police Department
Address: 630 Ashe Street, Hendersonville, NC 28792 
Hours: 24/7 **
Telephone Number: 828-697-3025

** Medications are collected 24/7, but service is is fastest during regular lobby hours (Monday through Friday - 8 am to 5 pm). If medications are dropped off after hours, there may be delays depending on officer availability.

Henderson County (NC) Sheriff's Office
Address: 100 N. Grove St. Hendersonville, N.C. 28792
Hours: Monday through Friday - 8 am to 5 pm except for county holidays
Telephone Number: 828-697-4596

Laurel Park (NC) Police Department
Address: 441 White Pine Dr. Laurel Park, N.C. 28739
Hours: Monday through Friday 8 am to 3 pm except for town holidays
Telephone Number: 828-692-9399

Speak with someone at the front desk (Henderson County Sheriff's Office), a Telecommunicator at the dispatch center (Hendersonville Police Department), or Police Officer (Laurel Park Police Department), for instructions and to get zip-lock type bags if needed.

After disposing your medications, take your empty pill bottles back with you to properly dispose of them. Labels containing personal information should be removed and shredded before recycling or donating. Some non-profit organizations accept medication bottle donations.

Each Law Enforcement Agency empties their pill drop boxes as needed. They record the weight of items removed from the box and then dispose of the pills and other medications properly. For most medications, this is done by incinerating them in an EPA approved incinerator. 

Sharps/Needle Disposal Instructions:

Residents of Henderson County can safely dispose of used sharps at the Convenience Center by following these four easy steps:

  • Store used sharps in an empty rigid plastic container, like laundry detergent bottle.
  • Be sure to retain the cap. Replace the cap when you are done filling the container and securely fasten it with tape.
  • Label the outside of the container in permanent marker, noting that the contents are "used sharps."
  • Find an attendant to handle the container at the recycling center.

For additional information on sharps disposal, contact the Henderson County Solid Waste Division.