Drug Disposal Program

Need to discard your expired or unused medications?

Bring them to the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office Lobby located at 100 North Grove Street.  The Sheriff’s Office provides citizens with a free, environmentally safe, and convenient way to dispose of medications from their homes, reducing the possibility of accidental or intentional misuse and/or theft. 

• The office is open during public business hours (Monday-Friday 8am-5pm)
• Check in at the front desk for instructions
• We accept prescription pills, capsules, ointments, vitamins, liquids in their original containers, inhalers & patches
• Chemotherapy medications & sharps/needles/Epi-pens cannot be accepted (see below for Sharps Disposal Instructions)

Since implementation of the drug disposal program in 2013, over 6,000 pounds of medications have been incinerated. The Sheriff's Office utilizes a state-of-the-art medical waste incinerator purchased with drug forfeiture funds to incinerate the medications. 

The Sheriff’s Office also participates in pill take back events throughout the year at various community events. These events are great opportunities and reminders to clean out your medicine cabinet. We thank Hope Rx, TRIAD and local businesses, non-profit organizations and municipalities for their ongoing partnership.

Residents of Henderson County can safely dispose of used sharps at the Convenience Center by following these four easy steps:

1. Store used sharps in an empty rigid plastic container, like a milk jug or laundry detergent bottle. Be sure to retain the cap.
2. Replace the cap when you are done filling the container and securely fasten it with tape.
3. Label the outside of the container in permanent marker, noting that the contents are “used sharps.”
4. Find an attendant to handle the container at the recycling center.
5. 
   

Simply bring your closed container to the Convenience Center, located at 265 Convenience Center Drive, Hendersonville, NC 28791 off of Stoney Mountain Road. Due to the nature of this type of material, it is imperative that any time you recycle a container of used sharps, you should find a staff person to receive it. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday from 8:00am until 4:30pm. This program is free and open to residents of Henderson County only.

Rigid plastic containers are puncture-resistant, thereby making it safe and easy to store and properly dispose of used sharps. You should never place used needles or medical waste of any kind in with your household recycling or trash, as this increases the chances for accidental injuries to staff and potentially harmful chemicals to mix with the environment. For additional information on this and other recycling programs, visit the Environmental Programs page or call Environmental Programs at 828.694.6524.