Prescription bottles are typically too small to recycle in curbside recycling (if they are smaller than 2" x 2", they will likely fall through the machinery and not be recycled). Larger bottles may be recyclable in your curbside bin, but small bottles should be recycled at Full Circle Sustainability as part of the paid TerraCycle program or donated to an organization that can use them. The Helping Hands Humane Society accepts them to use for pet medications. Ask your vet clinic to see if they could use them as well. Bottles should be cleaned with the label removed as much as possible. 

Medications may be disposed at the Household Hazardous Waste facility, at the Topeka Police Department, or at these local pharmacies. Pet medications no more than 1 yr. expired can be donated to the Topeka Street Dog Coalition. The Street Dog Coalition may also accept some human antibiotics. Contact the organization for details. 

Sharps (needles, syringes, lancets) can be disposed at the Household Hazardous Waste facility in a hard plastic or metal container or at the Topeka Police Department (320 S. Kansas Ave., Suite 100).

Durable medical equipment (such as wheelchairs, crutches, grab bars, knee scoolers, and wide variety of other items) may be donated to:

• Medical Loan Closet of Topeka (Aldersgate Village, 3124 SW Landsdown). Call for hours and information: (785) 925-7663.

• Topeka Independent Living Resource Center (501 SW Jackson St., Suite 100). Call for hours and information: (785) 233-4572.

Hearing aids can be recycled at the Nu Sound Hearing Center.

Eyeglasses can be donated for reuse through the Lions Club "Recycling for Sight" collection program and dropped in the Red Carpet Room of the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library.

Face masks that are free of bodily fluids can be recycled at Full Circle Sustainability as part of the paid TerraCycle program.