The Alameda County Board of Supervisors this Tuesday passed a first-in-the-nation drug take-back law that requires pharmaceutical companies to pay for the collection of unused medicines throughout the county.

On a vote of 5-0, the board approved the Safe Drug Disposal Ordinance, sponsored by Supervisor Nate Miley, that applies to both prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications.

The law has been in the works for more than a year and has been revised from its original form by supervisors after meetings with industry representatives.

Drug manufacturers would be prohibited from passing the collection costs along to customers and would be subject to $1,000-a-day fines for violating the law.

The aim of the law is to reduce abuse of prescription drugs, accidental poisonings and pollution of waterways through improper disposal of medicines.

Currently, there are more than two dozen publicly funded sites in the county where residents can drop off leftover medicines.

Alameda County Drug Disposal Sites

For Unwanted or Expired Medications

Alameda Police Department
1555 Oak Street (Lobby)
Alameda, CA
(510) 337-8340
8am-8pm daily

United Pharmacy
2929 Telegraph Avenue
Berkeley, CA 
(510) 843-3201

Alta Bates Milvia Outpatient Pharmacy
2500 Milvia Street, Suite 130
Berkeley, CA 
(510) 204-6550

Berkeley Transfer Station #3
1201 2nd Street
Berkeley, CA
Mon-Sat. 8-4:30pm

Eden Medical Center
(Bin located at Emergency Entrance)
20103 Lake Chabot Road
Castro Valley, CA
(510) 537-1234

Fremont Recycling & Transfer Station
41149 Boyce Road
Fremont, CA
(510) 252-0500

Haller's Pharmacy and Medical Supply
37323 Fremont Blvd
Fremont, CA 
(510) 797-2772

Alameda County Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Site -Fremont
(Operated by BLT Enterprises)
41149 Boyce Road
Fremont, CA
1-877-STOPWASTE

Washington Hospital Community Health Resource Library
2500 Mowry Ave
Fremont, CA 
(510) 477-7621

Washington Hospital Main Lobby
2000 Mowry Ave
Fremont, CA 
(510) 797-1111

Alameda County HHW Drop-off Site - Hayward (For residents of Alameda County only)
2091 West Winton Avenue
Hayward, CA 
1-800-606-6606

Ted’s Drugs
27453 Hesperian Blvd.
Hayward, CA 
(510) 782-6494

Alameda County Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Site – Livermore
5584 La Ribera Street
Livermore, CA
1-877-STOPWASTE

Washington Township Medical Group
6236 Thornton Ave 
Newark, CA
(510) 477-7621

Washington Township Medical Group at Warm Springs
46690 Mohave Drive
Newark, CA
(510) 477-7621

Haller's Pharmacy Newark
6170 Thorton Ave.
Newark, CA
510-797-4333

Alta Bates Peralta Outpatient Pharmacy
3300 Webster Street
Oakland, CA 
(510) 869-8835

Alameda County Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Site – Oakland
2100 E. 7th Street
Oakland, CA 
1-800-606-6606
Thurs. – Sat. 9-1pm

Medicine Drop-Off at the California State Building
1515 Clay Street
Oakland, CA 
(510) 287-1651
M-Fri: 8-5pm

East Bay MUD Administration Bldg.
375 Eleventh Street
Oakland, CA 94607
Mon-Fri. 8-4:30pm

Oakland Fire Station #3
1445 14th Street at Mandela Pkwy. 
Oakland, CA 
Open 24 hrs a day

Oakland Fire Station #20
1401 98th Avenue at International Blvd. 
Oakland, CA 
Open 24 hrs a day

City of San Leandro Senior Center
13909 E. 14th St
San Leandro, CA
(510) 577-7990

City of San Leandro Public Works
14200 Chapman Rd.
San Leandro, CA
(510) 577-3440

Davis Street Clinic
3081 Teagarden Street
San Leandro, CA 
(510) 347-4620
M-Thurs: 8-8pm, Fri. 8-6pm

Medical Arts Pharmacy
13847 E. 14th Street
San Leandro, CA 
(510) 357-1881

Washington Township Medical Group (at Nakamura Clinic)
33077 Alvarado Niles Rd
Union City, CA 
510 477-7621

The following site is the only site that can legally accept Controlled Substances and other medications:

Alameda County Sheriff’s Office
15001 Foothill Blvd.
San Leandro, CA 94578
(510) 667-7721
M-Fri.: 7-5pm