Refilling my daily medication organiser, with its handy flip-lid compartments, has become second nature. But as I peel open blister pack after blister pack, I’m struck by the mountain of waste they leave behind. A mix of plastic and foil from every single pill piles up - straight into the recycling box provided by the council. Or so I hope.
Blister packs seem like an obvious candidate for recycling. After all, they’re made of plastic and aluminium, both commonly recyclable materials. Yet, as I’ve recently learned, the truth is more complex. Most blister packs are made from a combination of materials that are difficult to separate. Even though my council collects plastic and metal in the same box, it’s likely these mixed-material packs aren’t actually recycled. Without specialised facilities to separate the layers, they’re often destined for landfill or incineration.
The waste is staggering when you consider the millions of blister packs used every day across the UK - especially from pensioners with our multiple ailments and the NHS' attempts to keep us alive. While their purpose - to protect medications from moisture, contamination, and tamperings - is crucial, their environmental impact can no longer be ignored. For those of us committed to reducing single-use plastics, this feels like a glaring gap in progress.
Thankfully, there are alternatives. Across the UK and EU, initiatives are gaining momentum to tackle this issue. Programmes like the UK's Circularity in Primary Pharmaceutical Packaging Accelerator (CiPPPA) aim to develop sustainable solutions, including recyclable plastics, biodegradable materials, and refillable systems. Meanwhile, some pharmacy chains, such as Superdrug, now offer TerraCycle collection bins for used blister packs, ensuring they are processed correctly.
So what can we do right now?
- Check Your Recycling Options: Verify if your council can recycle blister packs or if they are better suited for programmes like TerraCycle.
- Advocate for Change: Support campaigns encouraging pharmaceutical companies to adopt sustainable alternatives.
- Opt for Refillable Systems: Ask your pharmacist if bulk packaging or refillable options are available for your medications.
Until these alternatives become mainstream, blister packs remain a frustrating paradox: essential for safe medication but problematic for the planet. As I sort through the waste from refilling my flip-lid organiser, I’m left wondering: isn’t it time we demanded better from both our councils and the pharmaceutical industry?
