Blister packs now recyclable in Forbes

More medicinal blister packs will be kept out of landfill thanks to a recycling initiative between Forbes Shire Council, Flannery’s Pharmacy and Life Pharmacy.

Forbes Shire Council has partnered with both pharmacies to have Pharmacycle recycling bins at both locations, and residents are being asked to keep their blister packs and recycle them in these bins instead of placing them in their normal rubbish bins.

Blister packs are the packaging most medicinal tablets and capsules come in and cannot be recycled in the yellow lid bin due to the aluminum and plastic in them being bound together. This means many end up wasting landfill space.

Pharmacycle separates these two materials and recycles them to make a range of products such as fences, building and construction materials.

Since Pharmacycle began in 2022 it has saved 8 million blister packs from landfill.

Forbes Shire Council Mayor, Phyllis Miller OAM, said Council was this program would keep blister packs out of landfill and in the circular economy.

“This initiative is another great step Forbes Shire Council is taking to reduce waste in our landfills and I encourage everyone to place their blister packs in the blue bins provided at both pharmacies,” she said.

“Forbes Shire Council is committed to sustainability and I’d like to thank Flannery’s Pharmacy and Life Pharmacy for partnering with us.”

The Pharmacycle bins can be used during the opening hours of both pharmacies.

Image caption: Life Pharmacy and Flannery's Pharmacy owner and pharmacist, Jack Eastment, with Forbes Shire Council Waste and Environment Officer, Olivia Robinson.