Proper Disposal of Unused Medications

Dispose of Unused or Expired Medications

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office has drug collection units available at several locations throughout the county, providing residents with a safe and environmentally responsible way to dispose of unwanted, unused or expired medication, including controlled substances.

In addition, the Leesburg Police Department has a drug collection unit available for at the Leesburg Police Department Headquarters, 65 Plaza Street, northeast in Leesburg.

The units are intended to reduce the amount of unneeded medicine in residents’ homes and decrease prescription drug abuse, which has soared in recent years, especially among teenagers. More than 70% of teenagers say it is easy to get prescription drugs from their parents’ medicine cabinets, according to a Partnership for Drug-Free Kids study.

Drugs can be dropped off with no questions asked. View or print an Medication Disposal Drop Box Flier (PDF) about the medication disposal drop box.

Drug Collection Unit Locations

Ashburn Station
20272 Savin Hill Drive, Ashburn
Phone: 571-258-3000
Dulles South Public Safety Center
25216 Loudoun County Parkway, Chantilly
Phone: 571-258-3200
Eastern Loudoun Station
46620 East Frederick Drive, Sterling
Phone 571-258-3356
Leesburg Public Safety Center
65 Plaza Street NE, Leesburg
Shenandoah Building
102 Heritage Way NE, Leesburg
Western Loudoun Sheriff Station
47 W Loudoun Street, Round Hill
Phone: 571-258-3750

Other Options to Safely Dispose of Unwanted & Unused Medication

National studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away - both potential safety and health hazards.

Safely dispose of medications in your trash.
1. FDA Guidelines
2. Dispose of medication at the Loudoun County Landfill (for residents only)
Use authorized collector or mail-back program.
- Drug Enforcement Administration: Office of Diversion Control
- DEA Authorized Collector / Controlled Substance Public Disposal Locations

Drug Take Back Day

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office partners with local police departments and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in the "Take-Back" initiative that seeks to prevent increased pill abuse and theft. Loudoun County residents are able to discard potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs for destruction at several sites in the county. "Take Back Days" are scheduled twice a year. The most recent was in April 2023 The date of the next event will be posted here once available.

Since the inception of the DEA take-back program in 2010, over 17,000 pounds of unwanted and unused prescription medications have been collected in Loudoun County.

Additional Information

More information from the DEA about the program is online.

Note: Medical "sharps," such as needles and syringes, are not accepted at Take Back events. Information from the Food and Drug Administration on how to safely dispose of used needles and other sharps is online.