Inhaler disposal campaign
Inhalers account for 3% of the NHS carbon footprint due to the potent greenhouse gases in pressurised metered dose inhalers (pMDIs). If disposed of in domestic waste, they may end up in landfill, releasing any remaining greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Additionally, the plastics from inhalers cannot be recycled through domestic recycling systems.
Returning inhalers to community pharmacies for safe disposal ensures they are incinerated with other medical waste, reducing their environmental impact compared to landfill disposal.
The NHS North West London Medicines Optimisation Team has created resources to help healthcare professionals encourage patients to return their used and unwanted inhalers to community pharmacies.
How to implement:
- Display the resources in the GP practice, on your social media accounts and on patient waiting room screen
- Upload the banner to the GP practice website
- Add the following note to inhaler prescriptions: “Return used inhalers to your local community pharmacy for environmentally safe disposal”
- Educate patients about inhaler disposal as part of their inhaler technique check
- Run patient education campaigns on reducing medicine waste for inhalers.