Prescription Drug Drop-Off
The City of Trenton maintains a box for dropping off prescription drugs that are expired or no longer needed at the Trenton Police Station, 225 N Clinton Ave #1, Trenton, NJ 08609. This box is available 24/7, and residents are encouraged to use it whenever they are disposing of unused medications. Residents may call the Trenton Police Department at (609)-989-4170 with questions.
Why is it important?
Traditionally, residents had been encouraged to flush drugs, but negative environmental impacts to waterways and sensitive receptors have been identified. Scientific studies have shown that pharmaceuticals – including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones - are commonly found in trace amounts in drinking water supplies. Disposal within the normal residential municipal solid waste stream leads to increased contamination of landfill leachate and a rise in management costs as the leachate is routinely pumped from the landfill sumps. In rare cases, occurring in senior communities, disposal through the municipal system has led to theft of drugs from the trash with intent to sell them illegally. In addition, due to a drastic increase in the abuse of household pharmaceuticals, law enforcement is recommending swifter removal of unused medications from households, and a higher level of vigilance on safeguarding drugs from abuse.