Needle (sharps) Disposal:
Used sharps should never be placed loosely in the trash or flushed down the toilet. Doing so, increases the risk of accidental exposure for sanitation and sewage treatment workers, janitors, and your family.
Both the Ojai Valley Hospital and Oak View Family Practice have needle take-back programs. An appointment is needed at the hospital. Needle disposal is under the jurisdiction of the Ventura County Environmental Health Division . For more information contact Brandy Starjack at 805-654-5007.
Old prescriptions are hazardous waste:
It is no longer recommended that households flush even small quantities of household medicines down the drain. Some medicines can disrupt or destroy the useful microorganisms in the sewage treatment system and/or may pass through the system intact and potentially contaminate downstream water resources.
Old medications are considered hazardous wastes and must be disposed of accordingly. The Ventura County Pollution Prevention Center accepts old medications which do not contain Controlled Substances on an appointment basis. Controlled substances must be disposed of in the trash, but it is strongly recommended that these medications be made unusable prior to disposal*.
To make an appointment to drop off unwanted medication at the Pollution Prevention Center, call (805) 658-4323.
*Some suggestions:for destabilizing medications prior to disposal:
Dissolve in salt water and put back in the bottle.
Crush tablets and mix with food waste not composting
Though not officially supported, they can be added to oil base paints going to the hazardous waste center which get incinerated.
DO NOT FLUSH ANYTHING DOWN TOILET OR SINK
For more information contact Melissa Hernandez at 805-662-6582.
Ask your pharmacy to start a take-back program for medications:
Ojai Village Pharmacy takes all meds back.
Ojai Hospital takes all meds back at the front desk.
Medicine Shoppe – no program
Rexall - no program
Rite-Aide - no program
More information can be found at by clicking here.
