Blister packs are a common type of packaging material used for pills, vitamins, and various dietary supplements. In the UK, almost every household throws away blister packs into their household bins, resulting in unnecessary landfill waste and environmental pollution. What many people don’t know is just how recyclable blister packaging is.
In this recycling guide, we explain what blister packs are made of, how to recycle blister packs efficiently, and the steps you can take for a smoother recycling process.
From taking advantage of the Boots blister pack recycling services to working with a professional waste collection provider such as Waste Direct, there are more ways than one to be friendlier to the environment and manage your waste.
If you’re a medical business or handle pharmaceuticals, our team can help with dedicated medical waste collection and disposal services. We work with a range of medical business owners to collect waste via a tailored schedule. Contact us on 020 3287 6779 for further information and to discuss your unique requirements. We look forward to helping you!
Table of contents:
What What Are Blister Packs Made of?
Steps for Recycling Blister Packs For Businesses
What Blister Pack Recycling Services Are Available?
What Happens During the Blister Pack Recycling Process?
Who Needs to Use Blister Pack Recycling Services?
Find a Local Waste Disposal Service
What Is a Blister Pack?
Before we dive into the steps for recycling your medication packets, it’s a good idea to explain what blister packs are and what they’re made of.
A blister pack is a type of packaging commonly used to hold tablets, pills, and other medications, either for retail or prescription purposes. It consists of a pre-formed material with a plastic cavity shaped through thermoforming and sealed with a flexible lid. The name “blister pack” comes from the appearance of the deep, molded cavity or pocket that resembles a blister, where the pill or tablet is securely placed.
What Are Blister Packs Made of?
Blister packs are typically made using a single type of plastic to hold the tablets, covered by a thin layer of foil. The base is usually crafted from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic, while the top layer is made of aluminum foil. These materials are heat-sealed together to form the packaging.
Due to the combination of materials and the heat-sealing process, separating them for recycling is challenging and costly. As a result, many local councils do not accept blister packs for recycling. However, alternative recycling solutions are available for both households and businesses.
Steps for Recycling Blister Packs For Businesses
Did you know that the NHS uses 150 million blister packs each year? On Top of this, thousands of private healthcare providers account for even more blister package disposal. If you’re one of these businesses, being informed about how best to recycle blister packaging is crucial.
In the case of business waste and blister packs, we recommend using a dedicated medical waste collection and disposal service. Waste Direct’s professional waste handlers can collect your used blister packaging and your waste responsibly, inline with regulations set in the UK.
For cardboard waste recycling, which is what blister pack boxes are composed of, you can also use our dry mixed recycling collection services. Contact our team on 020 3287 6779 or email us at sales@wastedirect.co.uk for a no obligation quote today.
What Blister Pack Recycling Services Are Available?
In the UK, there are a number of services available to recycle blister packs. Below, we’ve listed the easiest ways to recycle them:
Use a Commercial Waste Collection Service
For businesses that regularly produce medical waste, including blister packs, you will need to pay for a specialist commercial waste collection service. Waste Direct works to povide dedicated collection and recycling options for local businesses.
No matter where you are located, we can assist you in recycling all types of business waste including dry mixed recycling, plastics, e-waste, and medical waste. Our waste disposal partners are vetted thoroughly to ensure that they work to the highest standards, and waste is disposed of via recycling where possible.
Use the Boots Blister Pack Recycling Service
Boots recycling service is great for disposing of old blister packs in a responsible way. Through their scheme, you can rest assured that your blister packaging will be recycled responsibly. All you need to do is download the Recycle at Boots app, log your empties, and drop them off at your nearest participating Boots store.
Once recycled with Boots, your blister packs are given a new lease of life, where the plastic and foil are separated to make new materials. Amazing things can be made from old blister packs including planters, decorative items, storage and more.
There may be other blister recycling drop-off schemes in your local area. Some participating Superdrug stores offer a similar service to Boots, for example.
What Happens During the Blister Pack Recycling Process?
Once you drop off your empty blister packs at a Boots store or a waste handler picks them up, they are transported to facilities where recycling begins. The blister packs are broken down into plastic and metals, where they follow a variety of recycling processes. Generally, blister packs are recycled as per the following steps:
- Using machines, the blister packs are separated into their fabrics, metals, and recyclable plastics.
- Once broken down, the materials are hydro pulped, which separates any coatings like wax.
- Following the separation of materials, plastics are recycled into polymers, and metals are smelted for steel.
- Where a blister pack contains flexible plastics or rigid plastics, they must undergo extrusion and pelletisation. The pellets can then be used and molded into new recycled plastic items.
Who Needs to Use Blister Pack Recycling Services?
If you’re a business that handles blister packs or medical waste, it is important to use recycling services. By partnering with a licensed waste collection service such as Waste Direct, you can ensure that legal requirements and guidelines are followed.
At Waste Direct, we have worked with many businesses and organisations to help recycle pill packaging including private hospitals, care homes, and shops. For more information or to arrange a waste collection service, contact Waste Direct on 020 3287 6779.
Households and Blister Packs
If you’re wondering how to dispose of blister packs at home, there are some options available to you. Whilst most councils will not allow for blister packs to be disposed of in household recycling bins, you can use a drop-off scheme.
Blister pack recycling drop-off services, such as the one managed by Boots, are an excellent way to responsibly recycle blister packs. This helps to avoid blister pack waste being incinerated or sent to a landfill, both of which are harmful to the environment.
Depending on your local GP and healthcare centre availability, it may also be possible to drop off used blister packs. However, you will need to check what options are available to you by speaking to your practice. For any medication that has expired or you no longer need, you can return these blister packs to your pharmacy for disposal and recycling.
The good news is, it’s far easier to dispose of the cardboard boxes and paper inserts that come with medication. You can use your domestic cardboard and paper recycling bin to do so.
Find a Local Waste Disposal Service
Waste Direct operations nationwide to provide reliable and efficient commercial waste disposal and collection services for businesses and households. Recycling medical blister packs is easy with our dedicated waste collection, we offer daily, weekly, fortnightly, and monthly commercial waste removal. You can also discuss your unique waste disposal needs with us for a tailored commercial waste service.
Contact our waste disposal experts on 020 3287 6779 today, and we’ll work with you to find a waste collection solution that works for you!
FAQs
What are blister packs made of?
Blister packs are typically made from a combination of plastic (such as PET or PVC) and aluminum foil, which are heat-sealed together to protect the contents.
Why can’t I throw blister packs into my bin?
Separating the plastic and aluminum layers in blister packs is complex and expensive, making it unsuitable for most local council recycling.
Can I use the Boots recycling app for blister packs?
Yes, the app is easy to use and free of charge!
How do blister packs harm the environment?
Due to the materials used for blister packs, they must undergo a specialist recycling process. If you throw them away into general waste, they will likely end up in a landfill, taking many, many years to decompose.
Are blister packs recyclable in the U.K?
Yes! There are a number of ways you can recycle blister packs including dropping them off at your local pharmacy (where accepted), using a recycling scheme such as the one provided by Boots or Superdrug, or by arranging collection of blister packs via a dedicated waste carrier such as Waste Direct.
