Going Greener through disposal and waste management
At Hillcrest, we have looked into different methods to recycle everything that can be recycled. With collaboration with PPG members and the local pharmacies, we can present to our patients relevant information on how they can reduce their carbon footprint through waste management.
Below is a list of items patients can recycle/ safely dispose of, and where. So far, we have received responses from 10 pharmacies within our catchment area, outlining what they are able to accept for recycling or safe disposal (see below).
Inhalers
Inhalers alone account for 4 per cent of all NHS CO2 emissions, with approximately 73 million inhalers being dispensed each year. Most of these are currently thrown away but a small proportion are returned to pharmacies to be disposed of as clinical waste.
See below for the list of pharmacies in our catchment area that offer the recycling of inhalers.
For more information on inhaler recycling, please visit Inhaler recycling – Grundon
To read the article, please visit UK-wide inhaler recycling scheme launched in push to reduce NHS emissions – Hospital Times
See below for the list of pharmacies in our catchment area that offer the recycling of inhalers.
For more information on inhaler recycling, please visit Inhaler recycling – Grundon
To read the article, please visit UK-wide inhaler recycling scheme launched in push to reduce NHS emissions – Hospital Times
Blister packs
Blister packs unfortunately can’t go in your home recycling collection but they can still be recycled. They’re made up of a mixed plastic/foil composition. Plastic packaging in the UK accounts for nearly 70% of our plastic waste, so it’s important to recycle plastic where you can.
Superdrug Pharmacies offer a route for recycling, such as this blister pack take-back scheme.
Boots stores reward customers with Advantage Card points for recycling blister packs. To learn more, click here https://www.boots-uk.com/newsroom/news/boots-rolls-out-national-blister-pack-recycling-scheme/
More of the local pharmacies that offer this are mentioned below.
To read more about recycling medicine packaging and blister packs, visit https://www.recyclenow.com/how-to-recycle/recycling-medicine-packaging
Superdrug Pharmacies offer a route for recycling, such as this blister pack take-back scheme.
Boots stores reward customers with Advantage Card points for recycling blister packs. To learn more, click here https://www.boots-uk.com/newsroom/news/boots-rolls-out-national-blister-pack-recycling-scheme/
More of the local pharmacies that offer this are mentioned below.
To read more about recycling medicine packaging and blister packs, visit https://www.recyclenow.com/how-to-recycle/recycling-medicine-packaging
Diabetes and weight-loss management injections
Pre-filled pens are more user friendly and allow for treatment at home without the guidance of a doctor or a nurse, Parker says.
Treatment at home can, however, lead to incorrect disposal. “In hospital or other medical settings, training is provided on the disposal of clinical waste, meaning it’s more likely to be done correctly. By contrast, the public using weight loss pens at home don’t have the same access to guidance and disposal methods,” says Mark Hall, who deals with clinical waste at waste management company Business Waste.
Used pre-filled pens are classified as clinical waste and must be disposed of in sharps containers that are puncture resistant.
Yet as many as six million used pens may be improperly dumped each year in the UK alone, which is equivalent to 96 tonnes of plastic, says Hall. “To put it into context, that’s the same as nine million plastic water bottles,” he says.
https://www.bmj.com/content/392/bmj.r2495
Medicating your diabetes can require the use of materials such as needles, when injecting, and lancets when pricking your finger to test blood glucose levels.
Upon using and disposing of these materials, it is your responsibility to ensure they are removed from your possession safely.
NHS guidelines require that used diabetes and weight-loss injection pens (such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Saxenda, or Mounjaro) and needles be treated as clinical waste and disposed of correctly.
Never place these items in household waste or recycling bins.
Diabetes and Sharps – Storage and Disposal
Recycling programs for diabetes and weight-loss management injection pens (such as Novo Nordisk’s Saxenda, Wegovy, Ozempic, and Victoza) are increasing, particularly in the UK, to combat the environmental impact of plastic waste.
Treatment at home can, however, lead to incorrect disposal. “In hospital or other medical settings, training is provided on the disposal of clinical waste, meaning it’s more likely to be done correctly. By contrast, the public using weight loss pens at home don’t have the same access to guidance and disposal methods,” says Mark Hall, who deals with clinical waste at waste management company Business Waste.
Used pre-filled pens are classified as clinical waste and must be disposed of in sharps containers that are puncture resistant.
Yet as many as six million used pens may be improperly dumped each year in the UK alone, which is equivalent to 96 tonnes of plastic, says Hall. “To put it into context, that’s the same as nine million plastic water bottles,” he says.
https://www.bmj.com/content/392/bmj.r2495
Medicating your diabetes can require the use of materials such as needles, when injecting, and lancets when pricking your finger to test blood glucose levels.
Upon using and disposing of these materials, it is your responsibility to ensure they are removed from your possession safely.
NHS guidelines require that used diabetes and weight-loss injection pens (such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Saxenda, or Mounjaro) and needles be treated as clinical waste and disposed of correctly.
Never place these items in household waste or recycling bins.
Diabetes and Sharps – Storage and Disposal
Recycling programs for diabetes and weight-loss management injection pens (such as Novo Nordisk’s Saxenda, Wegovy, Ozempic, and Victoza) are increasing, particularly in the UK, to combat the environmental impact of plastic waste.
Unused or expired medicines
Pharmaceuticals are estimated to contribute around 20% of the NHS England
carbon footprint. Of this, 79% comes from prescribing in primary care and
community services, 13% from acute services, and 5% from mental health
services. Prescribing is therefore the largest carbon hotspot in primary care.
The manufacture and use of pharmaceuticals (excluding inhalers) account for
around 40% of the total carbon footprint of primary care, while metered dose
inhalers (MDIs) contribute a further 22%.
Pharmaceuticals also have wider environmental impacts. Traces of
pharmaceutical products have been found in soil samples and drinking water,
showing that medicines can enter and affect the natural environment.
In addition, it is estimated that over £300 million worth of medicines go
unused each year in England. This creates economic and environmental costs and
may also pose risks to patients’ health, as unused medicines can lead to
suboptimal treatment.
Medicines that are past their expiry date, or are no longer required, can be
taken to any pharmacy to be disposed of safely.
https://www.wuth.nhs.uk/our-departments/a-z-of-departments/pharmacy/faqs/what-should-i-do-with-left-over-or-expired-medicines/
For more information, visit https://northyorkshireccg.nhs.uk/self-care-and-lifestyle/self-care-and-minor-ailments/wasted-medicines/
carbon footprint. Of this, 79% comes from prescribing in primary care and
community services, 13% from acute services, and 5% from mental health
services. Prescribing is therefore the largest carbon hotspot in primary care.
The manufacture and use of pharmaceuticals (excluding inhalers) account for
around 40% of the total carbon footprint of primary care, while metered dose
inhalers (MDIs) contribute a further 22%.
Pharmaceuticals also have wider environmental impacts. Traces of
pharmaceutical products have been found in soil samples and drinking water,
showing that medicines can enter and affect the natural environment.
In addition, it is estimated that over £300 million worth of medicines go
unused each year in England. This creates economic and environmental costs and
may also pose risks to patients’ health, as unused medicines can lead to
suboptimal treatment.
Medicines that are past their expiry date, or are no longer required, can be
taken to any pharmacy to be disposed of safely.
https://www.wuth.nhs.uk/our-departments/a-z-of-departments/pharmacy/faqs/what-should-i-do-with-left-over-or-expired-medicines/
For more information, visit https://northyorkshireccg.nhs.uk/self-care-and-lifestyle/self-care-and-minor-ailments/wasted-medicines/
Medicine packaging
Pill bottles, boxes patient information leaflets can go in standard household recycling.
Lotion Pumps
Most pumps are not currently recyclable. This is because they include an
internal metal spring in a plastic casing, making them difficult to separate
for recycling. The plastic bottle can usually be recycled, but you should
remove the pump and place it in general waste.
So far, we have one pharmacy Walkers Chemist that offer recycling of lotion
pumps, we will update the list if we get more responses. Also please do ask
your pharmacy if they accept recycling.
internal metal spring in a plastic casing, making them difficult to separate
for recycling. The plastic bottle can usually be recycled, but you should
remove the pump and place it in general waste.
So far, we have one pharmacy Walkers Chemist that offer recycling of lotion
pumps, we will update the list if we get more responses. Also please do ask
your pharmacy if they accept recycling.