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Reduce your carbon footprint with our inhaler recycling service
Our innovative inhaler recycling service guarantees the safe and compliant disposal of pressurised Metered Dose Inhalers (pMDI).
Cut carbon emissions
100% recycling and recovery
Avoid unnecessary incineration or disposal at landfill
Are you on track to meet the targets set out in the NHS Clinical Waste Strategy?
By 2026, the health service is expected to deliver a 50% reduction in carbon emissions produced from waste management, according to targets set out in the NHS Clinical Waste Strategy.
Between 2028-2032 that figure rises to 80%.
Inhalers alone are estimated to account for 4% of all NHS CO2 emissions and, with approximately 73 million inhalers dispensed every year, the challenge is to capture those greenhouse gases and recycle more inhalers.
The easy-to-use collection and recycling service for inhalers
Every pressurised Metered Dose Inhaler (pMDI) thrown away is full of hugely polluting hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) gases – these are a type of greenhouse gas known to be over a thousand times worse than carbon dioxide in contributing to climate change.
Most inhalers are either thrown away in household general waste or returned to pharmacies for incineration as clinical waste.
Our inhaler recycling service safely captures those gases and repurposes them for use in the refrigeration industry, where they are used to replace the need for manufactured gases. And, because we are also recycling the plastic and aluminum from the device, you can make a greater contribution to the circular economy.
Our convenient on-demand collection service allows for the safe disposal of these devices. Once your container is full, simply give us a call and we’ll come to collect it. Plus, because our entire collection fleet is certified CarbonNeutral®, this means our collections avoid adding to your carbon footprint.
Cut carbon emissions
Cut your carbon emissions and achieve the targets set out in the NHS Clinical Waste Strategy.
100% recycling and recovery
We safely repurpose the gases for use in the refrigeration industry, whilst recycling the plastic and aluminium.
Avoid unnecessary incineration or disposal at landfill
We won’t incinerate your inhalers or send them to landfill, helping to make you greener and also cut your disposal cost
The UK’s first proven nationwide inhaler recycling service
Grundon’s innovative and proven inhaler recycling technology has already been successfully used in a number of trials run by NHS Trusts across England and Wales and also in projects run by two major pharmaceutical companies.
One of these was Swansea Bay University Health Board (SBUHB), who launched a pilot take-back project for inhaler recycling across eight pharmacies, using patient education and promotional material to encourage people to return used or unwanted inhalers to their pharmacy.
Our inhaler recycling technology was also used in the Take AIR (Action for Inhaler Recycling) scheme. Funded by Chiesi Ltd and supported by University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and Leicestershire and Rutland Local Pharmaceutical Committee, the scheme saw 52,148 inhalers returned through the post over a 24-month period.
The project, which took place in community pharmacies and hospitals across Leicestershire, was estimated to have saved the equivalent of 305.3 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions from entering the atmosphere.
Grundon also worked with GSK on its Complete the Cycle inhaler recycling scheme, which ran for nearly a decade.
Why choose Grundon?
200,000 inhalers recycled a day
Our specialist recycling facility is capable of handling more than 200,000 inhalers a day, safely capturing all harmful hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) gases
ADR trained drivers and specialist collection vehicles
We operate our own fleet of specialist collection vehicles, driven by ADR (Carriage of Dangerous Goods Certified) trained drivers
Safe disposal at industry-leading treatment facilities
We focus on the recycling and recovery using industry-leading technology at our own treatment facilities
Our customer’s points of view
“It is estimated that Metered Dose Inhalers currently contribute to approximately 4% of the carbon footprint of the NHS, therefore it is vital that we ensure inhalers we dispense are disposed of in the most appropriate way, such as through recycling methods provided by Grundon Waste Management.”
Oliver Newman
Assistant Divisional Manager, Pharmacy & Medicines Management at Swansea Bay University Health Board
Setting up your inhaler collection and recycling service couldn’t be easier. Simply follow these steps and we’ll provide you with a reliable and convenient service.
01
Tell us about your waste
Tell us about the quantities of inhalers you receive. We’ll provide you with a free, bespoke quote for the safe collection and disposal.
02
We’ll deliver your containers
We’ll provide you with robust, fully compliant containers to securely store and transport your inhalers.
03
We’ll start collecting
When your containers are full, simply give us a call and we’ll come and collect your inhalers. We’ll take them back to our facility ready for recycling.
Frequently asked questions
How much can we expect to save on our carbon emissions?
With inhalers alone estimated to account for 4% of all NHS CO2 emissions, choosing to recycle your inhalers can help to deliver significant carbon savings.
A great example of where carbon savings have been achieved is in Grundon’s partnership with GSK as part of its Complete the Cycle inhaler recycling scheme. The scheme ran for nearly a decade and in one year alone, more than 3 million inhalers were recycled, saving CO2 emissions equivalent to removing 16,174 cars off UK roads for that year.
Where do I store the inhalers?
We fully understand that many facilities have limited storage space, which is why we have several container options for you to choose from.
Our expert team can walk you through the options available, making sure you select the ones that work best for you and your patients.
Once you’re happy, we’ll provide the robust, fully compliant containers to securely store and transport your inhalers.
It’s that simple, just fill the container up and let us know when you’d like us to collect it.
Is it actually possible to recycle and recover all parts of the inhaler?
Yes, absolutely!
Our Hazardous Waste Transfer Station is the first facility in the UK to recycle gas from recovered inhalers. Once they arrive, they’re disassembled and sorted into their different materials. The plastic casing and metal canisters are recycled and then we tackle the remaining gas trapped inside.
We extract the refrigerant gas from the inhaler canister and store it in portable refrigerant gas tanks. From there, we make sure the extracted gas is suitable for re-use.
Using our unique technology, we repurpose the gas for future use in the refrigeration industry. From refrigerators to vehicle air conditioners – your old inhaler can breathe life back into a whole new appliance!