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How to Recycle Pill and Prescription Bottles
Check local acceptanceNo payout. Reuse and donation keep the bottles out of the landfillLast reviewed October 20, 2026
Quick answer
Most prescription pill bottles are #5 polypropylene, and most curbside programs reject them because the small bottles fall through sorting screens. Empty the medication through a take-back site first, remove the label or cover your name with permanent marker, then check your local program. If it says no, mail the clean bottles to Matthew 25: Ministries for reuse, or trash them. Before you go, confirm that a local recycling center accepts the material in its current condition.
- Recycling route
- Check locally
- Typical value
- No payout. Reuse and donation keep the bottles out of the landfill
- Donate / take-back
- Available
Plastic prescription and over-the-counter medication containers. Most are #5 polypropylene, which curbside programs rarely accept because of the bottles' size. The medication and personal information need separate attention first.
Where to Recycle
- Matthew 25: Ministries, Cincinnati (mail-in reuse and recycling)
- Local animal shelters and veterinary clinics (reuse for pet medication)
- Specialty drop-offs such as SWACO's Recycling Convenience Center in Central Ohio
- Independent pharmacies that run their own bottle programs (ask yours)
- Local curbside program, only when it lists #5 and small bottles
How to Prepare
- 1Empty out any remaining pills or liquid and take them to a drug take-back site, not the bottle recycling stream
- 2Rinse the bottle to remove medication residue
- 3Peel off the prescription label, or cover your name and Rx number with permanent marker or duct tape (soaking in warm, soapy water loosens stubborn adhesive)
- 4Check the bottom of the bottle for the recycling code (usually #5) and ask your local program whether it accepts that exact size and code
- 5If curbside rejects them, donate clean bottles to Matthew 25: Ministries or a local animal shelter, or use a drop-off such as Columbus's SWACO Recycling Convenience Center that takes empty pill bottles
Special Instructions
Never put a bottle with leftover medication in your recycling bin. Take the medication to a DEA take-back site, a pharmacy kiosk, or a mail-back envelope. EPA says that if no take-back is available, you mix the drugs with used coffee grounds or cat litter in a sealed container and put it in the trash, and you cover the personal information on the empty container with permanent marker or duct tape or scratch it off.
Environmental Impact
Polypropylene is a recyclable plastic, but bottles this small drop through the rotary screens at sorting facilities and end up in the landfill. Reuse through donation programs and drop-offs that accept them keeps the plastic in use.
Official guidance and resources
Accepted items and drop-off rules can vary by location. Check the destination before you go.
- FDA: Find a medicine take-back location
- EPA: Household sharps disposal
- EPA: What to do with unwanted household medicines
- SingleCare: Can you recycle pill bottles?
- SIRUM: What to do with old prescription bottles
- Earth911: Send your pill bottles to do some good
- Recycle Right (SWACO): Prescription pill bottles
- DEA Take Back Day locator
What’s Accepted
Accepted
- Empty, rinsed prescription and over-the-counter vials with the label removed or covered
- Bottles with or without child-resistant caps (Matthew 25: Ministries)
Not Accepted
- Bottles with medication still inside (empty via take-back first)
- Bottles with an unremoved prescription label showing personal health information
- Small #5 vials in a curbside bin that does not list them
Donation & Take‑Back Options
Estimated value: No payout. Reuse and donation keep the bottles out of the landfill
Donation
- Matthew 25: Ministries pill bottle donations
- Local animal shelters and veterinary clinics
Manufacturer/Retail Take‑Back
Hazardous Components
- Medication residue if not fully emptied and rinsed
- Personal health information on unremoved labels
FAQs
Are prescription bottles recyclable?
The plastic is recyclable, but most curbside programs do not accept the bottles. They are #5 polypropylene and small enough to fall through sorting screens into the landfill. A few programs, such as SWACO's Recycling Convenience Center in Central Ohio, take empty bottles, so check yours.
How do I recycle medicine bottles?
Empty and rinse the bottle, remove the label, and ask your local program whether it takes #5 bottles. If it does not, mail clean bottles to Matthew 25: Ministries, give them to an animal shelter, or put them in the trash.
Are pill bottles recyclable at CVS or Walgreens?
Not through a national program. SingleCare reports that the major chains have no national bottle recycling, though some independent pharmacies run their own programs, so ask your local pharmacist.
Do I need to remove the label before recycling a pill bottle?
Yes. Peel it off, or cover your name and Rx number with permanent marker or duct tape. EPA and FDA both advise hiding personal information on empty medication containers.
What do I do with the medication still in an old bottle?
Take it to a DEA take-back site, a pharmacy kiosk, or use a mail-back envelope. If none is available, EPA says to mix the drugs with coffee grounds or cat litter in a sealed container and put it in the trash. Do not recycle a bottle with pills inside.
Can I donate or reuse old pill bottles?
Yes. Matthew 25: Ministries in Cincinnati accepts clean prescription and over-the-counter bottles with the labels removed, and animal shelters and vet clinics reuse them for pet medication. Do not reuse a bottle for a different medication.
Related recycling guides
- How to recycle Unused Medications
- How to recycle Medical Packaging
- How to recycle Glass Bottles
- How to recycle PET Bottles (#1)
- How to recycle Medical Textiles and Gowns
- How to recycle Laboratory Glassware
- How to recycle Ostomy Supplies
- How to recycle Diabetic Supplies
- How to recycle Contact Lenses and Cases
- How to recycle Wound Care Supplies
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