Expired and unused medications left in home medicine cabinets are a leading source of accidental poisoning and prescription drug misuse — and flushing them or tossing them in the trash sends pharmaceuticals into our waterways. The good news: every Illinois resident has free access to safe medication disposal under the Illinois Drug Take-Back Act.
Contact the Northfield Township Road District at (847) 724-7055 or ntroad@northfieldtownship.com. We’re glad to help you find the nearest disposal option.
The Northfield Township Road District has assembled the options below so residents — including those in the Road District’s unincorporated areas — can find the disposal method that works for them.
Option 1: Free Mail-Back Envelopes (Best for Seniors and Homebound Residents)
You don’t have to leave home to dispose of medications safely. Two free mail-back programs serve our area:
- Med Take Back Illinois — Request a free, pre-paid mail-back envelope at medtakebackillinois.org. Funded by pharmaceutical manufacturers under state law; no cost to residents.
- Cook County Sheriff’s Prescription Drug Take-Back Program — Free and anonymous, with 129 permanent collection sites countywide and community take-back events. Find a site at cookcountysheriffil.gov or call 1-84-GOT-USD-RX. Ask about mail-back options for elderly or homebound residents.
Northfield Township Road District residents 65+: if you use our Northfield Rides 65+ transportation program, you can also ask about scheduling a trip to a nearby drop-off site.
Option 2: Year-Round Drop Boxes Near You
The Cook County Sheriff’s Prescription Drug Take Back Program maintains free, anonymous collection sites countywide — see the full partner site list. The nearest partner sites within the Northfield Township Road District:
| Location | Address | Hours | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northbrook Police Department lobby — drop box provided by Save A Star; collection through the Cook County Sheriff’s program | 1401 Landwehr Rd., Northbrook | 24/7 | (847) 564-2060 |
| Glenview Police Department lobby | 2500 East Lake Ave., Glenview | 24/7 | (847) 729-5000 |
| Northfield Police Department — outdoor drop box (Cook County Sheriff’s program; no liquids or syringes) | 350 Walnut Ave., Northfield | 24/7 | (847) 446-9200 |
| Walgreens | 1403 Waukegan Rd., Glenview | Store hours | (847) 998-1442 |
| CVS Pharmacy #10467 | 3780 Willow Rd., Northbrook | Store hours | (847) 291-3596 |
| Glenbrook Hospital Outpatient Pharmacy — accepts liquids as well as tablets | 2100 Pfingsten Rd., Ste. 1092, Glenview | Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Sat 9 a.m.–3 p.m. | (847) 657-1785 |
All sites are open to everyone — no residency restriction. The police department boxes are available around the clock; pharmacy kiosks are available whenever the store is open (call ahead to confirm kiosk access). Have liquid medications? Most drop boxes accept pills and patches only — the Glenbrook Hospital Outpatient Pharmacy accepts both liquids and tablets during operating hours (medications only — no sharps; see our Sharps Disposal page for needles). Note: medications are no longer accepted at Glenview’s First Friday events — those now handle sharps only.
Please call ahead to confirm hours and accepted items before making a trip. Most drop boxes accept pills, capsules, patches, and pet medications, but not needles, syringes, sharps, aerosols, or (at many sites) liquids.
Option 3: Find Any Site Statewide
Under the Illinois Drug Take-Back Act, two statewide locator tools cover every approved collection site:
- MED-Project: med-project.org/locations/illinois
- Inmar Safe Medicine Drop: safemedicinedrop.com/locations/illinois
- Cook County MEDS site finder: cookcountymeds.org
Enter your address and the tool shows the nearest secure collection sites.
Option 4: DEA National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day
Twice a year — one Saturday in April and one in October — the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration partners with local police departments for free, anonymous, no-questions-asked collection events. Northbrook and Glenview police departments have both participated in past events. Watch this page and our news section for the next date.
What NOT to Do
- Don’t flush medications down the toilet or sink — they end up in local waterways.
- Don’t throw them loose in the trash where children, pets, or others can find them.
- Don’t leave them unattended in an unlocked location.
Questions?
This page is provided as a public service by the Northfield Township Road District. The Road District does not operate a collection site; all sites listed are operated by the agencies and businesses named. Information current as of July 2026 — please verify hours directly with each location.