Unwanted Medicines Waste

To arrange an ad-hoc pick-up of medicines waste, or drop off of new empty bins, from NHS Borders please contact communitypharmacy.team@borders.scot.nhs.uk and request.

Please note that the collection of your clinical waste will always be carried out by a person in uniform and with NHS Borders ID.

For pre-arranged pick-ups, we will notify of the week of expected collection and ask that our drivers show you their ID on arriving at your site. If you are concerned the person is not genuine, please contact the email address above and this will be forwarded to the Waste team. We are happy if you have any concerns that you ask the driver to leave, and we will arrange a collection.

Information for Patients and Customers

This poster provides patients and customers with infomration on what can and cannot be returned to community pharmacies.

Information included on poster is as follows:

Please help us to dispose of your unwanted and out-of-date medicines

1. Recycle any cardboard packaging at home.

Please put any cardboard or paper packaging inyour recycling bin at home.

Your local pharmacy cannot accept the outer packaging of your medicines.

2. Put empty foil blister packs in your general waste bin.

Please put empty foil blister packs in your general waste bin – these cannot be recycled in the Borders.

Please put clean glass bottles in your local bottle bank.

3. Bring unwanted / out-of-date medicines (in their containers) to your local pharmacy.

Please bring unwanted or out-of-date/expired medicines to your local community pharmacy – in their blister packs or bottles - without the outer cardboard packaging/paper bags. 

Unused medicines cannot be re-used and are incinerated – please review the medicines you request – together we can reduce waste, save NHS money and our environment.

Thank you for helping us to safely dispose of your unwanted medicines 😊