Help our Environment by Properly Disposing Unused, Unwanted or Expired Medicines

Everyday in California, unwanted or expired medicine is disposed of down the toilet. While this was once recommended practice to protect children and pets from accidental poisonings, studies show that pharmaceuticals can pass through wastewater treatment facilities into creeks, rivers, bays and oceans. In 2002, the U.S. Geological Survey reported that there were pharmaceutical compounds in 80% of waterways tested. Because many of these compounds are designed to be effective in small doses, there is concern that they may have impacts on water quality and wildlife.

Disposing of pharmaceutical wastes - including prescription drugs, over the counter medications and veterinary drugs - into your sink or toilet is no longer acceptable and can potentially harm our ocean environment.

		Operation Medicine Cabinet The Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department and Santa Barbara County Public Works have teamed up to install dropboxes to dispose of unused or expired pharmaceutical wastes at the nine Sheriff's substations throughout Santa Barbara county. For more information about Operation Medicine Cabinet, click here, or go to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's website at www.shsheriff.org. The unused or expired pharmaceutical dropbox in Carpinteria is available 24 hours a day and is located outside the Carpinteria Sheriff's substation at:
Carpinteria Sheriff's Substation 5775 Carpinteria Avenue Carpinteria, CA 93013 (805) 684-4561

THANK YOU FOR HELPING US PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT