Spiriva disposal : Hi all. Just... - Asthma Community ...

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Spiriva disposal

Singinglouder profile image
25 Replies

Hi all. Just finished my first Spiriva Respimat cartridge, and realised there are no instructions for disposal. So, what do you do with yours? Bin/back to pharmacy/to an inhaler recycling point? They’re different from normal inhalers, with the plastic on the bottom, so I’m stumped!

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Singinglouder profile image
Singinglouder
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25 Replies
Lysistrata profile image
LysistrataAdministratorCommunity Ambassador

I take mine back to the pharmacy - I can't find any inhaler recycling points near me sadly, though the pharmacy may do it.

Singinglouder profile image
Singinglouder in reply to Lysistrata

My pharmacy doesn’t recycle, either, but Boots in the next town does, so I take my dead salbutamol there, but I wasn’t sure about the Spiriva, being a different style of cartridge. Thanks for the reply 😊

Lysistrata profile image
LysistrataAdministratorCommunity Ambassador in reply to Singinglouder

I think I've taken Spiriva to recycling points when there was still one near me, so it should be fine - worth asking and if not they can just get rid of it.

Singinglouder profile image
Singinglouder in reply to Lysistrata

I’ll probably save up until I’ve got a few to make it worth the trip - maybe when I get the new dispenser…

Chook-123 profile image
Chook-123

hi singing louder My Spiriva is refilled for up to six times / in Australia

Mijmijkey74 profile image
Mijmijkey74 in reply to Chook-123

Wish they did this in the UK. As they do only need the replacement canisters/cartridges and not the encasement. It does even say something like replacement canisters/cartridges available. Yet always I receive the whole new encasements and canister/cartridges which is so wasteful and not environmentally friendly at all. It really miffs me off big time. It also wastes nhs resources/funds. The UK is behind the times always, and backwards unable to use very basic logic. So wasteful. 😠😤😩

Mijmijkey74 profile image
Mijmijkey74 in reply to Chook-123

If I asked in the UK that just the canisters/cartridge refills just be replaced and not the encasements for them, they would probably say not possible or they would just get me to open the boxes in front of them to take out the canisters/cartridges from each box and then waste bin the boxes and encasements in a landfill bin in frot of me because they don't just have the canisters/cartridges available as they always come with the encasements for them. And they would look at me/speak to me like I was nuts just requesting the refilks for encasements I already have that work perfectly well and new encasement each time is really not necessary at all.

Singinglouder profile image
Singinglouder in reply to Mijmijkey74

Hi Mijmijkey74. I’m in the UK, and when my GP set up the prescription (requested by the hospital) he set up two prescriptions - one for device with cartridge, and one for cartridge alone. There’s a tick box on the device, so when I get to the last box I know it’s time to request a new device. Maybe talk to someone at the surgery? I find the receptionists at ours are pretty good at sorting out that sort of thing, especially if I go in and ask in person.

Pipsqueak77 profile image
Pipsqueak77 in reply to Singinglouder

Hi

Yes… I am also UK and just request refills.. So it is possible.

Maybe ask the pharmacist attached to your surgery - not the GPS.

😊👍

hilary39 profile image
hilary39

Good question I hadn't realized we could get refills and recycle them, I'm going to ask about this my next time at the pharmacy. Thanks!

Clairebear35 profile image
Clairebear35

you can refill them up to 6 times but the doctor has to put the cartridge on your prescription and then my pharmacist takes it to be recycled. I usually take all my empty inhalers in every couple of months.

Mijmijkey74 profile image
Mijmijkey74 in reply to Clairebear35

What country are you in?

Celie1 profile image
Celie1

I take mine to my pharmacy. They dispose of any unused medicines too.

Singinglouder profile image
Singinglouder

Thanks everyone. My GP has set up the cartridges on repeat, and I’ve just started the second one - I was wondering what to do with the empty. As my pharmacy doesn’t recycle, just dispose, I’ll collect them until I go to the next town, where Boots recycles. Question answered!

Birthday60 profile image
Birthday60

you should take all your inhalers back to the pharmacy when you collect your prescription or are in town passing Boots

PinkSharrie profile image
PinkSharrie

I reuse it as when i reorder more capsules ( tiotropium ) they can be separate from the spiriva respimat cartridge had to talk to the asthma nurse about it as i thought it was such a waste to get a new cartridge each month and she sorted it for me

Singinglouder profile image
Singinglouder in reply to PinkSharrie

Hi PinkSharrie! I think we’re using the same word for different things. When I say cartridge, I mean the bit with the tiotropium that fits into the Respimat device - I’m not getting a new device each month. I agree, that would be horribly wasteful when they’re designed to be reused 😀

Mutley50 profile image
Mutley50

Boots have taken mine in the past.

CAYates profile image
CAYates

Hi, my pharmacy takes the used one and destroys or recycles mine.

Pantha44 profile image
Pantha44

hello

My local Chemist has a disposal box for inhaler cartridges. Maybe see if you have something similar or ask your local chemist if they have facility to take the empty cartridges.

Hope this helps

Mijmijkey74 profile image
Mijmijkey74 in reply to Pantha44

Do they recycle them though?

Pantha44 profile image
Pantha44 in reply to Mijmijkey74

Hey. Yes I assume so. However next time I’m there I will check. I’m under the impression that’s what it’s there for so 🤷‍♀️

Singinglouder profile image
Singinglouder in reply to Pantha44

Worth checking - my local pharmacy has a big notice about taking in old inhalers, but it’s just for disposal. I googled and found Boots in the next town was the nearest place to recycle.

Mijmijkey74 profile image
Mijmijkey74

I have been putting the plastic parts in my recycling bin, and the canister itself in my waste bin, but now been informed by a big notice I keep forgetting about and then reseeing again at my local pharmacy that used inhalers can be returned to them. Your post has just reminded me about that, and about the fact I have a bag full of used inhalers that is waiting to be taken to the pharmacy. I'm in the UK and the pharmacy in question is a Well pharmacy. Hope this helps.

Mijmijkey74 profile image
Mijmijkey74

Oops and just seen your post is a year old and there are already lots of replies. Sorry about that. 😳

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