Witnessed, on-site disposal of DEA Schedule I–V controlled substances — including fentanyl, hydrocodone, and oxycodone. An activated-carbon liquid solution inside a reusable container begins to chemically deactivate and denature medications on contact, rendering them non-retrievable, the DEA’s legal standard — with no shipping and no reference lab. The activated-carbon formulation achieves 99.99% drug deactivation after 24 hours, for both solid and liquid medications.
DEA Non-Retrievable StandardSchedule I–VNo Shipping · No Reference LabReusable Container
Take the medication out of its vial, bubble pack, or foil.
2
Load
Place unused or expired controlled medications, on their own, into the container.
3
Agitate
Gently agitate so the activated-carbon slurry coats the medications. Chemical digestion begins on contact.
4
Lock the cap
Align the triangle to the “locked” position and dispose per your facility’s protocol.
The full range · four sizes
From med room to pharmacy scale
2L SD2
500 pill capacity
5.59″ L × 5.59″ W × 5.98″ H (142 × 142 × 152 mm) 44 mm funnel opening Tethered twist-and-lock lid
Best for: med carts & treatment rooms
4L SD4
1,000 pill capacity
5.59″ L × 5.59″ W × 11.93″ H (142 × 142 × 303 mm) 44 mm funnel opening Tethered twist-and-lock lid
Best for: nursing stations & med rooms
9L SD9
2,250 pill capacity
9.12″ L × 6.67″ W × 14.4″ H (232 × 169 × 366 mm) Large opening · vented cap Inbuilt carry handle
Best for: pharmacy & high-volume units
18L SD18
4,500 pill capacity
11.16″ L × 10.18″ W × 14.21″ H (283 × 259 × 361 mm) Large opening · vented cap Handle · stackable design
Best for: central pharmacy & reverse distribution
Engineered against diversion
Container features
Restricted funnel opening
44 mm opening (2L/4L) restricts hand access while allowing all sized medications — pills, patches, and liquids.
Leakproof, anti-spillage design
Attached screw-on cap eliminates lid displacement; twist-and-lock secures contents when full.
Vented cap (9L/18L)
Minimizes aerosol expulsion during high-volume wasting.
Multi-use container
Reusability optimizes cost and reduces environmental impact across the range.
Mounting & security
Static Lock Bracket — easy-to-clean coated steel, key-lockable with an inbuilt lock (no padlock needed). Mounts 2L and 4L containers to a wall in a fixed position, eliminating unauthorized removal.
9L Wall Bracket & Security Cable — space-minimizing mount that secures the SD9 in place in pharmacy and utility areas.
Compliance notes — read before deploying
✓ Belongs in Secure-A-Drug
DEA Schedule I–V controlled substances, including fentanyl, hydrocodone, and oxycodone · solid and liquid medications, loaded on their own · witnessed wasting directly into the container.
✗ Does not belong
Empty vials and ampules go in the sharps container, not Secure-A-Drug · never place controlled substances in general trash or RMW bins.
→ When full
Lock the cap and return the container to pharmacy until the contracted vendor collects. Final disposal follows the non-hazardous or RCRA-hazardous pharmaceutical waste stream per your facility’s formulary characterization.
DEA controlled substance disposal
The DEA requires that a destroyed controlled substance be non-retrievable: no longer available for diversion for all practical purposes. Secure-A-Drug lets staff waste controlled substances at the point of care, witnessed, into a container that deactivates them. Keep your wasting and disposal records the way the DEA and your state board of pharmacy require.
No flushing: the EPA sewer ban
Since August 21, 2019 the EPA has banned healthcare facilities from sewering hazardous waste pharmaceuticals, which means no flushing and no pouring down the drain. Controlled substances go into Secure-A-Drug. Other pharmaceutical waste goes into a separate pharmaceutical waste container, which we also pick up. See all of our medical waste disposal programs.
Wasting controlled substances in pharmacy and patient care
Partial doses, refused doses and expired stock are the everyday sources of controlled substance waste. A 2L or 4L container on a med cart or in a med room handles pharmacy waste disposal at the point of care, while the 9L and 18L sizes suit central pharmacy and high-volume units.
Our service model
Delivered in partnership with Daniels Health — Daniels-owned trucks and technicians · one monthly invoice · 12-month fixed-price scheduling · 24/7 online manifests · non-incineration disposal · fully state & federal compliant.
