Can I recycle my pill bottle?
Fair question. The bottle is plastic, and most plastic containers go in the recycling bin. But prescription medicine bottles do not go in curbside recycling in Oneida and Herkimer Counties, and needles and syringes do not go in there either.
Why Pill Bottles Can't Go in Your Recycling
Prescription bottles are made from a brittle type of plastic. When they are run through sorting equipment at a recycling center, they tend to shatter, creating problems for the machinery and the sorters performing quality control.
Unlike plastic bottles, cups, and containers that move smoothly through the system, pill bottles are not suitable for this process. The cap has the same issue. Neither goes in the bin.
Properly Disposing of Medications
Don't flush medications down the drain or toilet. Pharmaceuticals entering water systems have been detected in rivers and streams across the country. Safe medication disposal keeps them out of local waterways.
We maintain a list of prescription drug drop-off locations throughout Oneida and Herkimer Counties. These include local pharmacies, police departments, and hospitals:
- Kinney Drugs (Boonville, Camden, Clinton, Dolgeville, Ilion, Little Falls, Old Forge, Whitesboro)
- Hannaford (Herkimer, New Hartford, Rome, Utica)
- Walgreens (New Hartford, Rome)
- Price Chopper (New Hartford, Rome, Utica)
- Wynn Hospital (Utica)
- Rome Health Community Pharmacy (Rome)
- Garro's Drugs (Utica)
- Multiple police department drop-off locations across both counties
The full list is available here. Call ahead to confirm hours and days of acceptance before dropping off. You can also request Deterra Medical Disposal Bags from the Oneida County Opioid Task Force – visit this link for more information.
If you cannot access a drop-off location, medications can go in the household trash, but they need to be treated first by mixing them with an undesirable substance, such as water, salt, coffee grounds, or cat litter. After the mix, seal it all in a bag or box before disposal. Do not conceal medications in food, as this poses a risk to pets and wildlife that may get into the trash.
Sharps: Needles, Syringes, and Lancets
Sharps — including used needles, syringes, and lancets — cannot go in your recycling bin and should never be placed loose in the trash. They pose a puncture hazard to waste workers and anyone else who handles them.
For sharps disposal in Oneida County and Herkimer County, residents have two main options:
- EcoDrop Utica accepts discarded residential medical sharps at no charge during regular hours of operation. Sharps must arrive in a sealed, hard container (such as a laundry detergent bottle with the cap taped shut) and be labeled "sharps."
- Household trash disposal is also permitted when sharps are properly contained. Place them in a puncture-proof container, seal with tape, label as "sharps," and dispose of them in the garbage — not the recycling.
Several hospitals and nursing facilities in the region also offer household sharps community collection programs. Call ahead to confirm hours and days of acceptance before dropping off. Check out the full list here.
Quick Answers: Medical Waste Disposal in Oneida and Herkimer Counties
Q: Can I recycle pill bottles in Oneida or Herkimer County?
A: No. Prescription medicine bottles are explicitly excluded from curbside recycling. They are not accepted in your recycling bin.
Q: Where can I drop off unused or expired medications near me?
A: Medication drop-off locations are available throughout both counties at local pharmacies (Kinney Drugs, Hannaford, Walgreens, Price Chopper), hospitals, and police departments. See the full list here.
Q: Can I flush old medications down the toilet or drain?
A: No. Flushing medications introduces pharmaceuticals into the water supply. Use a designated drop-off location, or mix medications with an undesirable substance and seal them in the trash.
Q: Where do I dispose of sharps in Oneida County and Herkimer County?
A: EcoDrop Utica accepts residential sharps at no charge when they are in a sealed, labeled, hard container. Several area hospitals and nursing facilities also offer drop-off programs. Call ahead to confirm hours.
Q: Can needles or lancets go in my recycling bin?
A: No. Place them in a sealed, puncture-proof container and either drop them off at EcoDrop Utica or dispose of them in the garbage, properly labeled.
Not Sure? Ask.
If you have questions about medication disposal or sharps disposal in Oneida or Herkimer County, contact us or visit ohswa.org/special-programs to learn about a preferred disposal option.