Regulations for starting a pharmaceutical take-back program vary by state and locality, but typically require compliance with DEA, EPA & state environmental departments, and state board of pharmacy rules. Businesses must ensure only “ultimate users” (patients or their families) return drugs, use approved collection solutions, and partner with licensed collectors or reverse distributors. 

Contact our team for further clarification and assistance. 

Our collection receptacles are secure drop-off points intended for pharmaceutical waste take-back only and follow regulatory guidance for safe collection and disposal. Please keep medications in their original bottles or containers, and mark out or remove any personal information so it can’t be seen.

Accepted: Prescriptions (Schedule II–V controlled and non-controlled substances), vitamins, prescription ointments, pet medications, prescription patches, and over-the-counter medications.

Not accepted: Needles/sharps (shop solutions), inhalers (shop solutions), aerosol cans, thermometers, lotions, liquids, and hydrogen peroxide.

If you are using an approved ARXG Medication Take-Back Envelope— liquids may be disposed of only if they are up to 3.38 fl. oz, remain in a tightly sealed original container, and are placed into a sealed plastic bag with the enclosed absorbent pad. Follow all instructions accompanied with the envelope and do not overfill.

Collected pharmaceutical waste is disposed of using regulator-approved destruction methods designed to prevent diversion and protect human health and the environment. For most medications, this includes high-temperature incineration, a carefully controlled process operating at temperatures in excess of 2,000°F that safely destroys pharmaceutical compounds. Where possible, this process allows for waste-to-energy conversion, helping reduce reliance on landfilling while supporting renewable, carbon-negative energy.

More than 99.9% of emissions from this process consist of normal components of air—nitrogen, oxygen, and water vapor. The remaining 0.1% is highly regulated and maintained well below federal guidelines and permitting thresholds.

Disposal facilities use sophisticated air-pollution control equipment with real-time monitoring to ensure emissions remain well below permitted limits and are subject to regulator-approved third-party audits to verify compliance. These controls help ensure disposal is conducted in an environmentally responsible manner.

To operate as an authorized collector for medication take-back, entities must modify their existing Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration to include collector authority, ensuring compliance with 21 CFR 1317.40. Eligible entities include retail pharmacies, hospitals/clinics with on-site pharmacies, and registered law enforcement agencies.

Businesses must maintain secure records of collected drugs, weights, transfer dates, and destruction receipts to demonstrate compliance with DEA and EPA requirements. Reporting formats can differ between jurisdictions.

Learn how to become an authorized collector.

Handling controlled substances requires strict compliance with DEA 21 CFR 1317 regulations. Authorized collectors must use secure, permanently-installed locked receptacles with sealed inner liners, comply with all applicable state and local laws, and maintain required documentation and reporting records. Read more.

EPA compliance is also required, which involves managing pharmaceutical waste as hazardous when necessary and adhering to federal disposal guidelines to prevent environmental contamination, including the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) rules for hazardous pharmaceuticals. Read more.

Costs for a pharmaceutical waste take-back program depend on the methodology (collection receptacle, mail-back, event), volume of waste, and level of regulatory complexity. Typical expenses include supplies, shipping, destruction, labor, and program management fees.

Contact our team to learn more.

Yes—some government agencies and local authorities offer grants or funding for pharmaceutical waste take-back programs, especially for community health initiatives and environmental protection. Availability and eligibility vary by location.