The scheme, by Cooperative Pharmacy and GlaxoSmithKline, is the first of its kind in Europe and is part of a six-month trial with manufacturer TerraCycle UK. About 35 million GSK respiratory inhalers, including 25 million Ventolin packs, are used in the UK each year, generating 450 tonnes of waste. Twenty branches of the pharmacy in and around Cardiff will be involved.

The recycling company behind the initiative, TerraCycle UK, will process and sort the inhalers into material type, with the recycled components sold on for use in new products. The recovered aerosol will be sent to a specialist company who will recycle the metal components and collect any remaining liquid or propellant gas. The gas is then used as a replacement fuel in high temperature incinerators and cement kilns. No part of the aerosol container goes to landfill.

Recycle trial for inhalers

ASTHMATICS in Southampton will be among the first in Europe to divert millions of inhalers from the rubbish tip. The Co-operative Pharmacy in Thornhill is one of a handful of chemists to take part in a pilot scheme encouraging people to recycle their inhalers. The six-month trial is the first of its kind in Europe and aims to reduce the number of respiratory devices that generate around 450 tonnes of waste a year in the UK. Those suffering from respiratory illnesses will be able to just drop off their devices in a specially designed recycling box at the pharmacy, which will be collected every month to ensure every element of the inhaler is recycled. The initiative was launched today by The Co-operative and GlaxoSmith Kline (GSK), which sees 35m of their inhalers end up in landfill every year. Fiona Caplan-Dean, from The Co-operative Pharmacy, said: “There are more than five million people in the UK currently receiving treatment for asthma and other respiratory illnesses who rely on the use of inhalers so the potential for recycling these products and reducing wastage is huge. “Pharmacists are ideally placed to help reduce the impact of inhalers on the environment and as an organisation committed to responsible retailing as part of our ethical strategy we are delighted to be at the forefront of this initiative, which is simple, yet effective.”