Recycling inhalers

[Wheezycat]

Does anyone have any idea of the current state of affairs regarding recycling the plastic component of inhalers? GSK had a scheme, but just now when I looked for that webpage it was no longer there. Also I have struggled to find a place in York - the GSK named places looked like question marks when I asked, and then told me they do take the metal canisters, but not the plastic. In fact all pharmacies should accept the canisters, but that doesn’t help with the plastic? I would be interested to hear what others have found?

[Thomas45]

I've found an article in the Pharmaceutical Journal, stating that the GSK Complete the Cycle scheme was to end in September 2020, which is sad.

When I get to my PC I will check further.

[watergazer]

I take my used inhalers back to the chemist - I didn't realise about the plastic parts so maybe they dispose of them safelyx

[Wheezycat in reply to watergazer]

I have a whole bag of them. I asked once in our pharmacy and I think the message was that the canister part they put in recycling, the plastic they put in normal rubbish.

[LilsBaker2023]

Hi Wheezycat, the majority of pharmacies take inhalers to recycle. As long as you put them in a clear plastic bag they will take them canister and plastic casings and all. Hope this helps.

LilsBaker2020

[Wheezycat in reply to LilsBaker2023]

Sure, but then what? I am concerned about plastics for various reasons, and I would by far see it recycled rather than just dumped, as I think most pharmacies do now.

[LilsBaker2023 in reply to Wheezycat]

Ah true. It depends on where you live. In London most pharmacies do. Hope you manage to find a solution. 😃

[Hidden]

A silly question I expect, but why wouldn't the plastic bit just go in household recycling?

[Emzcat41 in reply to Hidden]

Depends where you live on what type of recycling is accepted. When I lived in the West Midlands it was most types of plastic but now I’m in East Midlands it’s much less sadly

[Hidden in reply to Emzcat41]

Oh phew! I've been putting my in the recycling and had a small panic that they couldn't be for some reason!

[Wheezycat]

Here they will only take plastic bottles.