South London pharmacies become first NHS inhaler recycling depots

People can now recycle their old inhalers at pharmacies in south-east London as part of a first-of-its-kind NHS scheme.

Twenty pharmacies have signed up for a six-month pilot scheme which aims to reduce the greenhouse gases emitted when inhalers are not properly disposed of.

The donated inhalers will be sent to specialized facilities to recover and reuse a substantial part of the harmful gases.

The scheme, organized by South East London Integrated Care System, NHS England and Greener NHS, is the only nationally funded inhaler recycling pilot in England.

Laura Stevenson, pharmacist at King’s College Hospital, who was nominated for the HSJ Towards Net Zero Award 2023 and submitted the initial bid for the project, said: “Medicines account for 25% of the NHS’s carbon footprint, which is a staggering statistic!

“The climate crisis is a health crisis and we need to take decisive action to ensure we minimize our impact on the environment; returning the inhaler to your local pharmacy or hospital can play an important role in this.

“We can reach Net Zero by 2050 with these important actions and we need your help to do it, recycle your inhalers and help us create a greener NHS.”

There is a map of participating pharmacies and a full list here:

Harfleur Chemist: 107 Tower Bridge Rd, London SE1 4TW
Ling’s Chemist Barn Twist Ltd: 269 Old Kent Rd, London SE1 5LU
Bonamy Pharmacy: 355 Rotherhithe New Rd, London SE16 3HF
Duncans Pharmacy: 193-195 Greenwich High Rd, London SE10 8JA
PE Logan Pharmacy: 209 Trafalgar Rd, London SE10 9EQ
Woolwich Late Night Pharmacy – Travel/Yellow Fever and Phlebotomy Clinic: Lower, Ground Floor, Equitable House, 10 Woolwich New Rd, Thamesmead West, London SE18 6AB
First Care Pharmacy: Thames Reach, London SE28 0NY
King’s College Hospital: Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS
Kristal Pharmacy and Travel Clinic: 127-129 Evelina Rd, London SE15 3HB
Woodlands Pharmacy: 4 Edwin Hall Pl, Hither Green Ln, London SE13 6RN
Bellegrove Pharmacy: 225 Bellegrove Rd, Welling DA16 3RQ
Vantage Pharmacy: 108 Conisborough Cres, London SE6 2SP
Roadnight Pharmacy: 88 Station Street, Sidcup DA15 7DU
Olins Pharmacy: 3 The Oval, Sidcup DA15 9ER
Copes Pharmacy: 570-572 Streatham High Rd, London SW16 3QQ
Sefgrove Chemist Travel Clinic and Yellow Fever Centre: Westow Hill, Norwood, London SE19 1TQ
Paydens Beckenham: 399-401 Croydon Rd, Beckenham BR3 3PR
Princess Royal University Hospital: Farnborough Common, Orpington BR6 8ND
Eldred Drive Pharmacy: 25 Eldred Dr, Orpington BR5 4PE
Cray Hill: 88 Cotmandene Cres, Orpington BR5 2RG