Pharmaceutical Take Back
Summary of Pharmaceutical Take Back:
Will County partners for Pharmaceuticals: 
- Illinois EPA
- Basinger's Pharmacy
- Bolingbrook Pharmacy
- Doc's Drugs
- Crest Hill Police Department
- Joliet Police Department
- Lemont Police Department
- Lockport Police Department
- Mokena Police Department
- New Lenox Police Department
- Shorewood Police Department
- Peotone Police Department
- Plainfield Police Department
Will County Medication Take Back Program
This program protects Will County water resources, while reducing the materials going to local landfills. Each year thousands of tons of pharmaceuticals and personal care products enter the waste stream. Several United States Geological Survey studies over the past 7 years have found that many pharmaceuticals are surviving water treatment facilities and making their way into drinking water. The very medications that help people may be a concern to aquatic life.
The EPA has asked everyone to cease "flushing" unwanted medications down the drain. The federal government is encouraging people to locate pharmaceutical take-back programs for disposal of unwanted medications.
Will County, in cooperation with the Illinois EPA and local pharmacies, began the area’s first permanent Medication Take-Back Program in 2007. This is a pilot program, that if successful, may be expanded.
Will County shall continue to offer One-Day Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events which have always accepted medications. Please share this information with friends, neighbors and family members to protect our fishing, recreational and drinking water resources.
Drop-Off Instructions
- Bring only residentially generated medication items. No medications from businesses or doctor’s offices can be taken.
- Use a permanent marker to black out your name or personal information on the label.
- Take medications to pharmacy or collection site during drop-off operation hours ONLY.
- Please follow directions at the drop-off site. Only give medications to the pharmacy or drop-off site personnel.
- This is not a share or reuse opportunity. All medications received will be destroyed in the most environmentally sound manner possible.
| Items Accepted (Expired or Unwanted) |
Items NOT Accepted |
| Prescription Medications |
DEA Controlled Substances*: |
| Over-the-Counter Medications |
Narcotic Medications |
| Medicated Ointments |
Illegal Drugs |
| Medicated Shampoos |
Bio-Hazardous Materials |
| Liquids Containing Medications |
Sharps / Needles |
| Prescription Inhalers |
Radioactive Materials |
| Over-the-Counter Inhalers |
Other Household Wastes |
| Glass Thermometers (contain mercury) |
|
| Medical devices containing mercury |
|
| (blood pressure units, barometers, etc.) |
|
*The Federal Drug Enforcement Agency defines DEA Controlled Substances under the 1970 Controlled Substances Act. They are medications categorized by "schedules" based on their potential for abuse or addition. The schedules cover opiates, hallucinogens and prescriptions containing narcotics or amphetamines.
What to do with medications that are not accepted?
Will County, in cooperation with local law enforcement agencies, will host special collection events that include DEA controlled substances from time-to-time. Some law enforcement agencies accept DEA controlled substances. Please contact your local police department to learn if they offer this valuable home safety service.
Protect Personal Information when disposing prescriptions
The label of a prescription bottle shows personal data, such as your name, your doctor’s name, the type of medication, the number of refills allowed and the date of the current refill. In the wrong hands, this data could be harmful to you or a drug abuser. Therefore it is always important for you to black out your personal data on the label with a permanent black marker before disposing of the product in any manner.
Accidental Misuse
If you accidentally repeat a dosage, take an expired medication or otherwise misuse your medication, call the Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222.
Pharmaceutical Drop-Off Locations:
Beecher-Doc's Drugs
1277 Dixie Hwy
708-946-3714
Hours:
Monday-Friday 9am-7pm
Saturday 9am-5pm
|
Bolingbrook Pharmacy
402 W. Boughton Rd
630-759-8900
Hours:
Monday-Friday 9am-6pm
Saturday 9am-2pm
|
Braidwood-Doc's Drugs
230 Comet Drive
815-458-3444
Hours:
Monday-Friday 9am-7pm
Saturday 9am-5pm
|
Crest Hill Police Department
1610 Plainfield Rd (Rt. 30)
815-741-5111
Hours:
24/7 inside entrance
|
Joliet-Basinger's City Center Pharmacy
300 N. Ottawa
815-722-3200
Hours:
Monday-Friday 9:30am-5pm
Saturday 9:30am-11am
|
Joliet-Basinger's Essington Pharmacy
2202 Essington
815-267-3253
Hours:
Monday-Friday 9am-6pm
|
Joliet-Basinger's Marycrest Pharmacy
2130 W. Jefferson
815-725-1102
Hours:
7 Days a week, 8:30am-9pm
|
Joliet-Basinger's Primary Care Pharmacy
2025 S. Chicago St
815-723-0300
Hours:
Monday-Friday 9am-6pm
Saturday 9am-1pm
|
Joliet-Basinger's Madison Pharmacy
330 Madison St., suite 102
815-725-1102
Hours:
Mon,Tue, Thur, Fri 9am-5pm
Wednesday: 9am-1pm
|
Joliet Police Department
150 W Washingoton
and 7196 Caton Farm Rd.
815-724-3100
Hours:
24/7 inside entrance
|
Lemont Police Department
14600 127th St.
630-257-2229 x2478
Hours:
24/7 inside entrance
|
Lockport Police Department
1212 Farrell Rd.
815-838-2132
Hours:
24/7 inside entrance |
Mahattan-Doc's Drugs
540 W. North St.
815-458-6104
Hours:
Monday-Friday 9am-7pm
Saturday 9am-3pm
|
Mokena Police Department
10907 Front St.
708-479-3912
Hours:
24/7 inside entrance
|
Monee-Doc's Drugs
25624 Governor's Hwy.
708-534-8540
Hours:
Monday-Saturday: 9am-3pm
|
Naperville-Regional IEPA HHW Facility
1971 Brookdale Rd.
"Please, no direct calls"
Hours:
Sat. & Sun. 9am-2pm
|
New Lenox Police Department
701 W. Haven Ave
815-462-6100
Hours: Drop-Box 24/7
|
Peotone-Doc's Drugs
222 Harlem Ave
708-258-6811
Hours:
Monday-Friday 9am-7pm
Saturday 9am-5pm
|
Peotone Police Department
208 E Main Street
708-258-3003
Hours: Drop-Box 24/7
|
Plainfield Police Department
14300 S. Coil Plus Dr
815-436-2341
Hours: Drop-Box 24/7
|
Shorewood Police Department
903 W. Jefferson St
815-725-1460
Hours: Drop-Off 24/7
|
Wilmington-Doc's Drugs
1101 S. Water St
815-476-2131
Hours:
Monday-Friday 9am-7pm
Saturday 9am-5pm
|
|
|
These locations are also listed on theGreen Guide Database; locations throughout Illinois are availabe on the IL EPA website!
What to do with needles/sharps that are not accepted:
Needles, or sharps as they are also called, that are used in the home for self-injection (such as insulin shots) are currently permissible to discard with regular garbage using a rigid container (such as a milk jug, coffee container or laundry bottle) sealed with duct tape.
Residents may also use a bio-hazard container and pay for bio-hazard disposal service through several companies. Occasionally a doctor's office, hospital or other medical provider will offer disposal service to their clients.
Sharps generated by hospitals, medical offices, traveling nursing services, etc. are required to be disposed as bio-waste through a commercial bio-hazard disposal service.
The Medication Take-Back Brochure may be printed on 8.5" X 14" sheet.