Practically every home in the UK will have a medicine drawer of some size, shape or form. Whether you take regular medications and vitamins or just have some supplies for occasional aches and pains, you’ve probably got blister packs. Did you know you can recycle them? They are made from plastic and recyclable foils, so it is possible.
Household collections
Much of the confusion about recycling blister packs comes from the fact they are not generally suitable for kerbside collections. The problem is they are technically a composite product because they combine foil and plastic. It means recycling them requires an additional step to first separate the materials. Typical recycling processes don’t do this, so council collections tend not to accept them.
Other options
While blister packs may not be suitable for kerbside collections, that doesn’t mean the only option is to throw them away. Just like soft plastics and crisp packets, there are a number of dedicated recycling services for them.
One recycling service you should definitely consider is Recycle At Boots. They did a trial in London and South East England last year to invite people to drop off blister packs to recycle. It was immensely successful, encouraging them to expand it nationwide. People can now take empty packaging to over 800 different shops in a wide array of locations. It’s fantastic news for sustainability and ensuring the plastics and recyclable foils don’t go to landfill.
The great thing here is people can track their waste and ensure it becomes something new. Thanks to their partners, Boots ensures the aluminium goes straight for recycling to create new products. The plastic becomes MYBoard, a fantastic product manufacturers can use to make everything from playground equipment to furniture, housewares, and more.
Recycle At Boots has also gone even further to get people recycling; they have a drop off service for various other difficult to recycle health and beauty products. This can prevent the materials from going to landfill. In addition, they are currently offering points for Advantage Card holders that bring specific items to recycle (conditions apply).
Talk to us about recyclable foils if you want to be a greener business
Foils are a fantastic choice for a wide array of applications. They are especially good for different types of packaging because they can provide protection against moisture, UV, and more, preserving things like medication and food. In addition, they are wonderful for decorative touches on various products.
If you do decide to use foil, it’s a good idea to opt for recyclable materials. They are a green option, perfect for any business working to protect the environment and support a circular economy. Sustainability is one of the most important things to consumers at the moment, with trends showing more people actively looking at recyclability, material sourcing, and other factors. So, make sure you’re choosing materials with good credentials.
You can contact us if you want to discuss recyclable foils and applications; we’re a leading specialist and can offer fantastic advice. Additionally, we have some high quality foils if you want to order anything.