Red Med Boxes
Safe Medication Disposal
The Red Med Box provides a secure way to dispose of unused or expired medications. Proper disposal helps protect the environment and our community from prescription abuse and overdose.
Avoid These Disposal Methods
- Do not flush medications down the toilet.
- Avoid pouring them down the drain.
- Do not throw them in the garbage.
- Never give them to another person.
Risks of Improper Disposal
- Pollution in the Great Lakes
- Harm to wildlife
- Contaminated water supplies
- Prescription drug abuse
- Overdoses
- Theft from home or trash
Collection and Disposal
Once medications are placed in the Red Med Boxes, the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit collects and destroys them.
Accepted Items
The Red Med Box accepts:
- Antibiotics, steroids
- Cold and flu medications
- Expired and unused medications
- Liquid medications
- Medicated ointments, lotions, drops
- Medication samples
- Over-the-counter medications
- Pet medications
- Unopened Epi-Pens
- Vitamins and herbal supplements
Items Not Accepted
The Red Med Box does not accept:
- Aerosol cans
- Bloody or infectious waste
- Business waste
- Electronic devices (e.g., diabetes testers)
- Empty containers
- Hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol
- Inhalers
- IV bags
- Needles, lancets, syringes
- Thermometers
- Used Epi-Pens
