Free, anonymous medication collection runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Participating sites accept pills, patches and certain sealed liquids, but not needles.
Unused and expired medications can be dropped off for free at designated locations across Iowa on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. National Prescription Drug Take Back Day allows households to dispose of unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medicine anonymously rather than leave it in medicine cabinets or throw it away improperly.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) organizes the collection twice a year with local law enforcement agencies and pharmacies. Iowa’s Office of Drug Control Policy is participating in the October event, which includes collection sites in the Des Moines area and other Iowa communities.
Several locations in the Des Moines metro have confirmed Saturday collection hours. Residents in Davenport, Bettendorf, Cedar Rapids, Waterloo and other communities can search for participating sites through the DEA’s national locator.
October 24 collection sites are open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Three police and public safety facilities in the Des Moines area have confirmed participation in the October 24 event:
| City | Collection location | Saturday hours |
|---|---|---|
| West Des Moines | West Des Moines Police Department, 250 Mills Civic Parkway | 10 a.m.–2 p.m. |
| Ankeny | Ankeny Police Department, 411 SW Ordnance Road | 10 a.m.–2 p.m. |
| Johnston | Johnston Public Safety Building, 6373 Merle Hay Road | 10 a.m.–2 p.m. |
These are special event collection locations. Their October 24 participation does not mean they offer medication drop-off at the same hours every day.
The DEA’s October 24 collection site locator provides additional locations by ZIP code, city, county or state. Participating sites are added as the event approaches, so the search results may change.
Davenport and Bettendorf residents can search for Quad Cities drop-off sites
For residents of Davenport and Bettendorf, the DEA locator identifies participating collection sites on the Iowa side of the Quad Cities. A search can be narrowed by ZIP code or expanded to nearby communities.
The same search tool covers Moline, East Moline and Rock Island in Illinois. The October 24 event is national, although individual drop-off locations and accepted materials can differ.
Permanent medication disposal boxes are also available at some pharmacies and law enforcement facilities in Scott County. Those year-round collection sites should not automatically be treated as October 24 event locations, and their regular hours may differ from the 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. event schedule.
Iowa City residents can also look for the October 24 collection organized with local public safety partners at the East Side Recycling Center, 2401 Scott Boulevard SE. The event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Pills, capsules, patches and sealed liquid medicines are accepted
Saturday’s participating collection sites will accept unused or expired prescription medications, including tablets, capsules and medicated patches. Over-the-counter medicines are also included in Iowa’s drug take-back program.
Liquid medications, such as cough syrup, must be securely sealed in their original containers. Individual collection sites may have additional handling instructions.
Under the national program, vaping devices and electronic cigarettes may be accepted only after their batteries have been removed. Collection staff cannot remove batteries for participants.
The following items are not accepted at the DEA event:
- Needles, syringes and other sharps.
- Illegal drugs.
- Vaping devices or e-cigarettes with batteries still installed.
Iowa’s permanent collection program also excludes inhalers and aerosols from its standard accepted-item list. People disposing of these products should confirm separate local disposal instructions rather than place them in a medication collection box.
Medication drop-off is free and anonymous
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day offers a free and anonymous way to remove unwanted medicine from homes. The program is intended to reduce the risk of accidental ingestion, medication misuse and improper disposal.
In April 2026, Iowans turned in more than 6,871 pounds of unused medication. The Iowa Department of Public Safety reports that the state has collected more than 118 tons through prescription drug take-back events over time.
Unused prescription pain medications and other drugs can pose risks when stored in accessible household cabinets. The DEA promotes secure storage while medications are needed and safe disposal when they are no longer required.
More than 400 permanent collection locations operate in Iowa
Medication disposal is not limited to the October 24 event. Iowa has more than 400 permanent prescription drug take-back locations at law enforcement agencies and pharmacies.
The Iowa prescription drug disposal program includes a year-round location search, accepted-item information and packaging guidance. Permanent sites set their own operating hours and may have different restrictions.
The state’s guidance recommends placing solid medicines in clear, sealed plastic bags when permitted by the collection site. Liquid medications should remain in secure, tightly closed containers, with additional packaging as required by the location.
For homes without access to a collection site, the Iowa Department of Public Safety provides separate instructions for disposing of certain medications in household trash. Medicines should not be flushed unless their specific disposal instructions direct otherwise.
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day collection sites in Iowa will accept medications on Saturday, October 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Additional event locations remain searchable through the DEA locator until the collection period ends.
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