Drug Take Back Day 2026, Where to Get Rid of Old Medications in the St. Cloud Area

(KNSI) – That half-empty bottle of pain pills from your knee surgery three years ago doesn’t have to wait until Saturday’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day to leave your house.

That bottle is exactly the kind of thing Take Back Day is meant to catch. Federal survey data shows about half of people who misuse prescription pain relievers get them for free from a friend or relative. The DEA says the event has collected more than 20 million pounds of unneeded medications since 2010.

Leftover medications are also a risk for young children. CDC researchers found about 59,000 emergency room visits in one year by kids five and under who swallowed medicine, and a Safe Kids Worldwide report found nearly half of those children got into a grandparent’s medications.

According to MyOldMeds.com, there are 576 free, year-round disposal sites across Minnesota for unused and expired medications. Several are close to home.

In Stearns County, the sheriff’s office at 807 Courthouse Square in St. Cloud has a drop box available 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Police departments in Albany, Avon, Belgrade, Cold Spring, Kimball, Melrose, Paynesville, St. Joseph, Sartell, Sauk Centre and Waite Park also have drop boxes. Cold Spring’s is also open Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and the St. Joseph Government Center drop-off on the west side of the building is open 24/7.

In Benton County, the sheriff’s office has a disposal site in its main lobby at 581 Highway 23 in Foley.

In Sherburne County, drop boxes are located at the sheriff’s office in Elk River and the Becker, Big Lake and Princeton police departments.

Several pharmacies are also registered with the DEA as year-round collection sites. They include CVS at 2420 Division Street in St. Cloud, CVS at 740 Railroad Avenue in Albany, Thrifty White Pharmacy at 400 Main Street in Cold Spring and Guardian Pharmacy at 940 Industrial Drive South in Sauk Rapids.

Most sites accept prescription and over-the-counter pills, liquids and ointments. Needles and other sharps are not allowed. Stearns County asks that medications in glass containers be placed in a padded envelope, which is provided at the drop box. Benton County recommends crossing out the person’s name on the label with a marker. Hours can change, so it’s a good idea to call ahead.

Residents elsewhere can find a site by entering their zip code at MyOldMeds.com or using the DEA’s Public Disposal Locations search tool.

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