PEOPLE with respiratory illnesses can now recycle their inhalers for the first time as part of Complete the Cycle, a groundbreaking respiratory inhaler recycling scheme, being rolled out by GlaxoSmith

Kline (GSK) from today.

The Co-operative Pharmacy in Yelverton will offer the service in partnership with GSK and TerraCycle UK. 

The scheme, which aims dramatically to reduce the environmental impacts associated with disposing of respiratory inhalers, was piloted over six months in 40 Co-operative Pharmacy stores across the south of Wales and south east of England earlier this year. A total of 200 Co-operative Pharmacies will now offer the service. It is hoped that within just one year more than 69,000 inhalers across England and Wales could be saved from landfill.

During the trial period, approximately 6,000 respiratory inhalers, or 10% of those that would normally be used and disposed of in the period, were returned, preventing the release of inhaler propellant, which is a greenhouse gas, into the environment. The amount of propellant saved is equivalent to preventing the release of around 35 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2). This is equivalent to the amount of CO2 that would be released by driving an average sized car around the world six times.

Trevor Quantock, Co-operative Pharmacy regional manager, said: 'We are delighted to be able to offer this simple yet effective service to my customers in Yelverton, and believe together we can make an important difference to our environment.

'As a responsible and ethical business, it is important to take a lead in sustainable initiatives like these.'

The new service is now available at the Co-operative Pharmacy, 8 Moorland Villas, The Roundabout, Yelverton.