Recycling for Charity: medicine, pill and vitamin bottles
This page lists charities and other organisations collecting empty plastic pill, vitamin and medicine bottles.
If any details are incorrect or you know of any other groups collecting them, please leave a comment below and I’ll update the listings.
- For ways to reuse the bottles instead, check out our post: “how can I reuse or recycle plastic pill and vitamin bottles?“
| Who wants it | Why | Country | Contact details |
| No one at the moment | If you’re a charity or organisation that collects old medicine or pill bottles, please leave your details below. |
- Find out how to recycle other things for charity with the Recycle This Recycling for Charity Directory
I am wondering were i need to send medicine bottles my mom’s methodist church in ark. doe it but couldn’t give me an address were i could start this here in mississippi ? could you send me info on it thanks sherry mcowen
Old pill bottles I take to the local PDSA. They are always greatful it helps save on their expenses.
What is PDSA? I have been saving my pill bottles and the pharmacy doesn’t know of any place that recycles. They said to just toss them because no one can reuse because they have had pills in them. Obviously not in to recycling.
pdsa is peoples dispensary for sick animals
where to send empty med bottles
So…do I send my emptied bottles through the mail?
you can contact me by mail and we will find a way to get them.
thanks
pauline
Pauline,
Do you need more empty medicine bottles? I have about 200. You would have to get the labels off, though.
Thanks,
Sharon
Are you still collecting old used medicine bottle with caps? If so does this include vitamin bottles?
AFCA is no longer collecting pill bottles.
thank you,
tanya
My mom has lots of pill bottles and I’m wondering how to get them to someone or organization that needs them. Have heard that some churches collect and send to foreign countries. Thanks
I believe the Vet’s use these pill bottles to dispense medications, it helps save them $$ and you get to recycle medicine bottles – I’d take off the information on the bottle first.
I HAVE BEEN SAVING THESE BOTTLES FOR A LONG TIME AND I WOULD LIKE TO PLACE THEM WITH THE VET’S ALSO . MY MOTHER AND FATHER BOTH WHERE IN THE WAR , IT REALLY WOULD BE A BLESSING TO BE A PART OF WHAT IS BEST TO HELP. REMEMBER MY NUMBER IS ON THE WEB SITE SO IF YOU GIVE ME A CALL PLEASE LET ME KNOW THAT IT IS ABOUT THE VET’S . THANK YOU MORE PEOPLE REALLY NEED TO DO THIS .
I found this site because I was trying to find a group that collects surplus meds for distribution to places like Haiti. We have pain killers left over from having surgery and it seems such a waste to flush them when others are in dire need. Thanks
NEVER flush your old medication!! It is detrimental to the water supply.
Looking for a place to drop off used medicine bottles. Breaks my heart to throw anything away that could easily be re-used.
Phone: 281-890-8686
I have about 200 used empty medicine bottles, that I was saving for a friend, who knew people, who wanted them for charity. They are no longer taking them. I can obtain more through elderly members of my church. if someone knows of any charity that would like them, please contact me @ (704) 568-3362. Thank you, …Pete Conder
Hi,
I’m a nurse who works in a clinic in Mn and we provide medication management on a daily basis to patients and end up with many bottles. We had a blessed elderly lady who would spend her days removing labels and washing the bottles. Our dear friend passed away and we now don’t know where she sent them. We have to of course remove names for privacy but sometimes there are parts of labels that still need to be removed if the pharmacy does not use the new peel off labels.(That old glue was tough stuff!)We don’t have funds to ship but I think I can get some donations. Nearly all the bottles have never left the clinic. God bless you in your work.
Hi Sue,
We are student looking for empty medicine bottles for a short film about the war in Afghanistan, it’s a story about a boy saves American solders … Do U still have those bottles? if so, or if you know where we can get 100 bottles, please let me know– we are in LA and willing to pay for shipment. My email address is chingyawang@gmail.com
let me know, thanks-
I have about 200 medicine bottles that I have collected over the years. I will be happy to send them if you can remove all the labels. I just don’t have time to do that tedious task. Please let me know if you would like to have them.
If you have anyone else willing to remove the labels for you, WD40 works a treat and works out far cheaper than the commercial stuff!
My wife and I are friends with a couple that have been missionaries in Haiti for 40 years. The wife is the clinical nurse and has taught and treated complications for jungle infections and diseases for all these years. There is a constant need of medicine bottles they can use in despensing their medcications. We are very versed in the removal of lables from these older bottles, and would be very grateful is you would consider them being sent to us. My wife and I are retired, but we would be willing to also help with shipping charges. We would be most grateful if you would consider us with your bottles, and I can promise that they will go for a very worthy cause in treating many patients who would otherwise not receive any medication at all.
Sincerely,
Ken E. Smith
Ken, please post an email address so that I can contact you for a mailing address to send the empty pill bottles, or send me an email at davilyn100@sbcglobal.net
Ken,
Please post an email address so that I can contact you for an address to ship the empty pill bottles. Or send me an email at davilyn100@sbcglobal.net
Thanks
Ken,
Where should we send the bottles to? So glad to know someone who can use them.
I can be contacted at darlenekaye.cash@stjude.org
Thanks,
Kaye Cash
Ken-
I have maybe a dozen bottles that I would be willing to send if you tell me where to send them.
Thanks,
Dana
Ken, My husband and I have several bags full of empty medication bottles with the labbels removed. Let me know where to send them We would be glad to help.
Hello Mr. Ken E. Smith
My name is Damaris Abreu and I have alot of medicine bottles that I have been collecting for quite a while. If you are interested in them I would gladly give them to you. Also I can talk to my church as well in donating them. I will try to help in as much as I can. Our church is a missionary bilingual church that has the heart and soul for helping others. May the Lord continue to help and bless evertyhing that you’re doing.
I have med bottles to donate. Send me an email. Harold Weaver Jr.
Where can we send old medicine bottles?
Our church was collecting medicine bottles to be sent to a missionary in Africa but the lady doing it has taken ill. I have about a 1/2 of a 30 gallon trash bag full (still with labels) that I would like to send to some one for this purpose. It was a great idea and easy to get people to donate. At my age everyone I know is taking lots of medicine. Please let me know if you are interested. Thank you.
Thank you Ken,
My Ladies Aid group at church is starting to collect and would be able to help with shipping cost also.
Please respond and I will forward to the group what is needed.
Thank you so much.
Hi Ken,
I have a bag of these bottles that I was saving for a lady at our church. Sadly, she’s now in the throes of Alzheimer’s Disease and no one knows where she used to send the bottles.
So, if you could give em your contact info, I’d happily have you put these to good use.
Any idea of the shipping charges from Canada for approx. 2 lbs of these bottles (of various sizes/colours)?
Bless you in your work!
Cheers!
If you would just e-mail an address where you send your bottles I would send them directly to the mission. I have several plastic grocery sacks with labels off.
Ken, If you will please let me know where to send the bottles I have, I will be glad to get them to you.
Thank you very much.
Cathie
Ken, If you would e mail me an address I will send you bottles that I have and will look into organizing a few people to donate their old pill bottles and send them to you.
John Cox
Please let me know where I can send these to you and do you know if postage is charged at post office for me to send them? I am on a very fixed income and have a special needs child but would love to give anything I can to help I have about 12 bottles a month and right now about 20 to start.
Thanks
Would you please send your mailing address I am saving my bottles and would mail them to you
The Amvets in Hudson no longer recycles the used Pill Bottles
I also had heard that Haiti ws in need of pill bottles…I have a ton of them…but i cannot find any info on where to send them…if anyone finds out please let me know…
Thank you
I have a garbage bag three=quarters full of pill bottles. I am looking for someone or an organization who has a need for them. Please contact me at my e-mail address
cherik@megavision.com
I am looking for the plastic amber colored medicine bottles (with caps).
If you can help me, please contact me at olneybeverly@yahoo.com
Thank you,
Beverly
I have a bag full of amber colored medicine bottles with caps and clean. I am happy to send them to you.
betts
I have a bunch of the amber colored medicine bottles with lids and I would be happy to send them to you. You can write to me at dzina@hctc.com and
give me an address where to send them.
Jeane
Beverly, I get new amber plastic pill bottles every month and would like to donate them to anyone who can use them. I am in GA. Where are you?
Beverly, I have about 57 bottles, all amber, varying in size. I would be glad to send these to you. Do you still need them?
What size(s) are you looking for? Please contact me.
I have at least 100 amber medicine bottles, with labels removed. If anyone knows of an organization who needs them, please post a reply.
Hi, Lyn,
We’ll take your pill bottles if you still have them! We will then send them to Africa so that children can have their medicine dispensed in a nice, clean bottle.
Our address is below, if you’d like to send them our way.
American Foundation for Children with AIDS
[address deleted]
Thank you!
tanya
[RECYCLE THIS edit: AFCA have told us they’re no longer collecting bottles so I’ve deleted the address]
Tanya, I have a TON of used, empty medicine bottles I’d like to see get reused and not thrown in a landfill. Do you still take the bottles for kids w/AIDS? and do you want me to remove the labels? Thanks for your help.
Denise,
yes, we’ll take them! while it would be nice to have the labelsoff, we can do that here if it is too much trouble.
Thank you!
tanya
Tanya,
Are you still taking Rx bottles? Can I make a post on my facebook page with the address to send bottles to?
Annmarie,
Yes, we are still taking the empty prescription bottles and we’d be really happy if you’d tell others about our need. Anyone can send them to:
AFCA
[address deleted]
We take the amber or blue ones, not the white ones.
Thank you so much!
tanya
[RECYCLE THIS edit: AFCA have told us they’re no longer collecting bottles so I’ve deleted the address]
Do u still want empty rx bottles sent to harrisburg, pa?
Lynne, yes, please send o the Harrisburg address.
Thank you!
tanya
Tanya,
It would be great if you’re still taking amber-colored pill bottles with plastic caps — are you?
And if you do, can I send a mix of some bottles with the labels off and some with the labels on?
Finally, if you can no longer accept pill bottles, do you know of an organization that does?
Thanks!
hi there, Sherri
yes, we are still accepting bottles. But, if you could send us the ones WITHOUT labels, that would be great, as I just don’t have the man power to remove all the labels.
thanks!
tanya
HI, I would like to know if you still take medicine bottles? My mom and I have alt and I like where you send them. Let me know so I can send them to you.
Many Blessings
Angelina Falcon
Angelina,
yes, we are still taking bottles – the amber, green or blue prescription bottles. NOT white or vitamin bottles, please, as those are actually recyclable. If you could take off the labels, we’d really appreciate it.
Thank you so much for wanting to send them to us!
Tanya
I have numerous pill bottles that I would like to recycle but they still have the labels on them which come off if you need them to. Do you still need them.
Lorie,
Sure, we’ll gladly take your bottles. But, please remove the labels and any sticky residue and run them through your dish washer or wash the inside out because many have residue from medicines.
We do not accept vitamin bottles or anything that isn’t the amber, blue or green prescription bottles. No white ones.
Thank you so much!
tanya
Are you still accepting plastic amber pill containers at this address?
AFCA
[address deleted]
If so, I have some I’d like to send. Also, I’ll have 6 to 10 containers every month if you would like them. (Sending them monthly, quarterly, yearly is ok with me; whichever fits your needs.) Please respond to me at email address below.
Thank you for your good works! Donnatz@comcast.net
[RECYCLE THIS edit: AFCA have told us they’re no longer collecting bottles so I’ve deleted the address]
Hi Tanya: I too have a bunch of cleaned medicine bottles for charity. Are you still collecting them 7-18-11 ? I just hate to throw them away if someone can use them. Please let me know and i will get them out tomorrow. thanks Linda
Linda, yes, we are accepting clean prescription bottles with no labels or sticky residue. thank you!
tanya
DEAR TANYA,
ME & MY MOTHER IN LAW WOULD LOVE TO GIVE OUR EMPTY PILL BOTLLE’S TO SOME ORG. OR START A RECYCLE ORG. THAT COULD USE THE CAPS FROM BOTTLES & USE THE PILL BOTTLES CAN USE LET ME KNOW WHERE I CAN START THIS & TALK TO. THANK YOU GOD BLESS BERNICE.
Bernice,
hi there. As of yesterday, we are no longer accepting empty prescription bottles. We got inundated with them (which was great for a while), but people didn’t clean them and we ended up with a lot of work. Anyway, i think it would be fabulous for you and your mother in law to collect to donate. all you have to do is to write on this blog that you’ll accept them, tell people what kind and where to send them and soon, you’ll get quite a few!
good luck,
tanya
Hi, all.
American Foundation for Children with AIDS is no longer accepting empty pill bottles. Thank you all for what you have sent in the past few months…they have been cleaned and sent to hospitals in Africa. Thank you!
tanya
Are you still collecting pill bottles?
Please email me, ras@fidnet.com
Thanks!
I have a ton of green and amber prescription bottles with labels still attached and don’t have time to strip all the labels off. Does anyone know where I could send them?
Thanks,
Sharon
We’ll take them! Our address is:
American Foundation for Children with AIDS
[address deleted]
Thank you!
tanya
[RECYCLE THIS edit: AFCA have told us they’re no longer collecting bottles so I’ve deleted the address]
I, too, have a collection of empty pill bottles. Do you need more. Most have labels removed but some do not. Do you care about the labels? If they would be of use, please let me know where to send them.
M.E. Arnold
We continue to accept clean prescription (amber, green or blue – NOT white) bottles. But, if you could please take off the labels before sending them, we’d really appreciate it, as we don’t have the manpower to do so.
Thank you!
Tanya Weaver
American Foundation for Children with AIDS
[address deleted]
[RECYCLE THIS edit: AFCA have told us they’re no longer collecting bottles so I’ve deleted the address]
I have a large bag of amber bottles with the labels removed. A Lutheran Church saved them for missionaries but no longer collect them. Anyone else know where these bottles could be sent?
Thanks, Lynn. I hope someone can use them. If not, what a waste!
Sharon
I live in Milwaukee WI and wish to deliver 12 years of pill bottles to an organization. I had talked to staff at Walgreens and information was not available for disposal or recycling; therefore, the bottles have been accumulating. Contact: evolvingwen@att.net
I am seeing where most curb side recycling centers are taking the pill bottles, Not the lids, just the bottles, the lids are not recyclable(different melting point). remove the labels and lids and toss into the green bins. Of course, check with you local recyclers first.
Here is a website with information on where to send your prescription bottles for recycling:
http://waste-not-want-not.tripod.com/id14.html
“Waste Not Want Not” is no longer accepting pill bottles–I just called them this morning to enquire. I have lots of empty bottles with lids with the labels removed, but still sticky with glue. Does anyone know where I can send them? Thanks!
I have many empty medicine bottles = is there any organization in the norethern suburbs of Chicago who has use for them – they are usually
white and with labels removed .
putting hot tap water in the bottles for a few min. makes it so much easier to remove the lables. Peel them while the water is in them.
Question for TANYA WEAVER
Hi Tanya, I have a bunch of bottles I would like to send you. The labels have been removed, however, in most cases there is a little bit of leftover dust inside from the pills they contained. Are you able to wash them at your facility or would I need to do that first?
hi there, DW,
if you could run them through your dish washer, that would be awesome. it will really help us out.
thanks so much!!
tanya
Msg for TANYA WEAVER
Hi Tanya… How would the bottles stay in place in the dishwasher rack? Since they are virtually weightless, wouldn’t the water jets scatter them all over the inside of the dishwasher? Have you tried it before?
To run items like that through the dishwasher:
Place them in a mesh laundry bag, or any other type of bag that will allow the water to do it’s work and flow back out….
Place the closed (tie or safety pin closed) bag in the TOP RACK of your dishwasher.
Hope that helps :)
DD
Just a thought – crafters may have need for the bottles w/lids.
I took address of the Post 208 women ax and now they don’y know what it is all about is there anyone who can help me
For Tanya Weaver ,
How do I mail these bottles to you? In a box attn. to you or just the address you listed, I love who you are sending them too and why! I have them from myself and my mother. One of our members a Nurse at my church was a faithful Missionary to Africa and passed away a few years ago and now I have several bags of bottles. I have Uveitis ( just had surgery on my left eye, someone is typing for me ,now) and chronic pain and caring for my mother with Dementia, I’ll check them as close as possible but my sight isn’t the best right now and cannot go back and wash them all over. I’ll try and get someone with better vision to do that if possible. Q: can they be put in a mesh bag in the washer?
eddist@bellsouth.net
eddist@bellsouth.net for T. Weaver about our empty medicine bottles
I’m located in Northern KY and have empty med bottles and would like to donate them – an organization here stopped taking them.
thanks
Hi,
I live in Indianapolis, IN, and I have a bunch of empty blood test strip bottles (non-recyclable material) with attached flip-off lids. Is anyone collecting these?
Thanks!
Lia
Gabby
Hey Sue, I know you can sell those test strips. I recently sold a couple of unused test strips for a friend. It depends on the brand of your test strips, but you can Google “sell diabetic test strips” and see what works for you. Its good to have another person benefit unused test strips if we it is just collecting dust and expire anyways. Hope this helps.
PS. I am a post transplant patient, received transplant on April 20, 2011 and have over 50 bottles of empty medicine bottles and will continue to have more bottles because post transplant therapy, anywhere I can send them? I live in Los Angeles county.
Email sokpanrypreap@Gmail.com
Tanya,
Are you still collecting bottles? The people we had been sending bottles to are no longer taking them. I can easily get a steady supply,
Thanks
I too have several hundred plastic medicine bottles with caps. Is there an organization that is still collecting them. Please advise. I will pay the shipping cost.
Evelyn
emajot7@gmail.com
Has anyone found an organization that accepts/collects medicine bottles yet????
Is this contact info still viable?
Deirdre
AMVET POST xxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxx
[address removed by louisa – no, it’s not, they’ve asked me to remove it from the site]
How do I donate empty medicine bottles?
How do I donate empty medicine bottles.
If anyone has a place that needs these pill bottles (Vitamin bottles, too if needed), please let me know. I have 50+ available and know a few friends with many also. I could also get many more if I as at church.
GaryWorster@Gmail.com
Is there any one who will still take used medicine bottles? It seems no one wants them any more.
^^ gee ..this is real..BAD…our country is supposed to be going green..and we cant even recycle our own pill bottles..i have bright red bottles from target…about 100 of them… i have a great suggestion, the pharmacies should give us pills in a tiny bag.with a new peel off instructions .if needed…then we can transfer in our own bottles…GO GREEN..AND ECO FRIENDLY ..rebecca14@netzero.com
I totally agree!! I’m seeing post after post of boat loads of pill bottles, and to think this is just a mere fraction of what we could do statewide, nationally, heck, even world-wide. I don’t take much medicine, but what I do take, I wonder as I throw that pill bottle away (only 1 per month) how many bottles ‘some’ people must go through…I’m stunned to think there is no way to recycle this plastic…I never really thought about how much is being thrown away evey day…it’s astronomical! And a silly little pill bottle is such a simple thing to recycle-or like many others have done, have a collection box at your church, or lots of organizations…schools, even like grocery stores, drug stores, etc. This seems just SOOO wasteful!!! I also would add-that your idea to re-use your own pill bottles (if its just a refill of the exact medicine/ dosage) is a top notch EXCELLENT idea. So how does a person go about getting this idea into “action”???
I live in Augusta, GA, and cannot find anyone who takes empty medicine bottles. Has anyone found anyone who will take them? I have a lot. I agree with Rebecca that it will be a supreme waste if no one is taking them.
Thanks.
Hello, I live in Phoenix,AZ. We would love any empty pill bottles. You can send them to
PO BOX 584
Tolleson, AZ 85353
Thanks Tiffinie
trene@cox.net
If you still need pill bottles, I have about 50 squeaky-clean ones that were run through the dishwasher and kept in airtight bags once dry. Please let me know. I’ll be happy to send them.
We would love to send you pill bottles, what are you using them for?
I just finished peeling the labels off a whole bunch. Can you use any size?
Thanks,
Carolyn
tiffinie,
i have a lot of empty pill bottle. do you still want them? i will send them to you if you use them for either crafts or charity…thanks, cathy
What are you going to do with them?
The drug companies simply have to come up a plan NOT to use pill bottles that can not be recycled. The average american get a half dozen or more amber bottle perscriptions each year, while those over 55 get twice that. Considering there are over 300 million Americans in the US that equals billions of pill bottles going into landfills yearly. OMG..what is wrong with this picture???
And that’s not taking into consideration the rest of the world!
I have an address to donate empty pill bottles if anyone is interested. It is a free clinic in West Virginia and he appreciates all donations.
Send me an email or I will publish it here if I’m allowed.
Thanks
My Sorority has been collecting the bottles for about 6 months & would love to donate them to a worthy cause. Please contact me via e-mail with information.
I have pill bottles if you want them…
Can you send me the address to send these bottles……
you might want an email address…..Youniqu46@gmail.com
this is for the pill bottle donation
Donna,
I have at least 200 empty pill bottles. Please let me know where to send them.
Looks like there’s more than enough need for re-use at the source.
First and foremost we need to have the right to receive prescription renewals in our own recycled pill container!
It is utterly stupid that pharmacies are required to put pills in new bottles when dispensing from their bulk containers.
They can stick a lable on it as they do with their new ones.
If there’s a concern about liability – we can be required to sign a waiver with the pharmacy not to hold them responsible!
Excellent idea!!!
You can also donate the bottles to Matthew 25 Ministries, a great charity. (www.m25m.org)
They are recognized by Forbes as the most efficient charity in the US with over 99% of donations and goods going directly to their programs. They actually shred these on site and sell the material back to the plastic mfg. Last year they were able to shred over 5000 lbs.
This is wonderful! I’m absolutely beside myself that there couldn’t exist facilities like this locally, all over the place-why in the WORLD would we NOT do this?? Somewhere along the line, I just have a feeling this is money-driven (the lack of concern with all this wastefulness) because it makes no sense otherwise…At all! Which really saddens me-seems like money drives a lot of things nowadays…
Hi, I’m looking for 100 used medicine bottles for a community arts project in London. The bottles need to be min 100ml size, ideally brown/amber but clear is fine. I’m happy to pay for postage. email ruth@earthling.org.uk.
I take the pill containers but not bottles I work at a children’s scrap store