Ci.foster-city.ca.us

For Immediate Release
FREE PHARMACEUTICAL DROP-OFF AT SHOREWAY
All Over-the-Counter Medications and Some Prescriptions Accepted

SAN CARLOS, CA – October 18, 2013 – RethinkWaste service area residents can now conveniently
dispose of their expired or unwanted medications for free in a secured pharmaceutical drop-off box located at the Shoreway Environmental Center’s Public Recycling Center in San Carlos. The program is for non-controlled substance medications only, including all over-the-counter medicines and some Examples of accepted over-the-counter items include ibuprofen, cough medicine, vitamins and allergy medications. The medicine can come in liquid or pill form, or pill punch packs. The medicines should be left in their original container when being placed in the drop-off box, including the pill punch packs. Residents do not need to scratch out their personal information on a prescription. Loose pills should be bagged in a zip-type plastic bag before being placed in the drop- “We are very pleased to offer the free pharmaceutical drop-off program at Shoreway for non- controlled substances,” said RethinkWaste Executive Director Kevin McCarthy. “It’s just one of the many programs we offer to the public at the Shoreway Environmental Center to help mitigate the improper disposal of materials harmful to the environment.” Controlled substances are those drugs or chemicals whose manufacture, possession and use are regulated by the Controlled Substances Act, which is enforced by the Drug Enforcement Administration. These cannot be dropped off at the Shoreway facility. Residents can check with their doctors, pharmacy or the booklet attached to the drop-off box to determine whether a prescription is The free drop-off is made available through RethinkWaste’s contract with WM Curbside, LLC to help prevent the flushing of old medications into the wastewater stream or throwing them into the garbage, both of which can be harmful to the environment. WM Curbside (dba At Your Door Special Collection) also provides the residential Door-to-Door Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program in ten of the RethinkWaste Member Agencies. The Shoreway Environmental Center is located at 333 Shoreway Road in San Carlos. The Public Recycling Center is open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 am to 4 pm. Visit for more information on the Shoreway Facility. 610 Elm Street, Suite 202 P: 650-802-3500
San Carlos, CA 94070 F: 650-802-3501 RethinkWaste.org

MEMBER AGENCIES: Town of Atherton • City of Belmont • City of Burlingame • City of East Palo Alto • City of Foster City • Town of Hillsborough
City of Menlo Park • City of Redwood City • City of San Carlos • City of San Mateo • County of San Mateo • West Bay Sanitary District
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Rethink Waste is a joint powers authority of twelve public Agencies (Atherton, Belmont, Burlingame, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Hillsborough, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Carlos, San Mateo, the County of San Mateo and the West Bay Sanitary District) in San Mateo County, California and is a leader in the delivery of innovative waste reduction and recycling programs. RethinkWaste owns and manages the Shoreway Environmental Center which receives all the recyclables, organic materials, and materials (i.e. solid waste) collected in its service area. RethinkWaste also provides strategic oversight, support and management of service providers that collect, process, recycle and
dispose of materials for its Member Agencies. RethinkWaste (i.e., South Bayside Waste Management Authority) was formed in 1982. For more information on RethinkWaste, please visit our website at

Source: http://www.ci.foster-city.ca.us/pressreleases/upload/101813_Press-Release_Free-Pharmaceutical-Drop-Off-at-Shoreway.pdf