Green asthmatics can recycle

Beetlemama

I just found this via an email link from Tescos:

Recycle your inhalers

There isn't one near my house but there is one near my work, I know it's hardly going to change the world quickly, but even 10 a year between us is better than not recycling them.

Ectophile

I've been chucking the little aerosol cans in the normal can recycling for some time, and the cardboard box goes in the cardboard recycling.

I have always just thrown away the plastic bits, though.

Beetlemama

Apparently, they're just destroyed and not recycled. I was recycling the bodies but not the canisters, I like the idea that someone somewhere is making them safe and then reusing them.

Ben84

It's notable that they recover any remaining propellant gas, because asthma inhalers typically contain hydrofluoroalkanes. Unlike the CFCs, which have been recently replaced, these have little ozone depleting potential, but like CFCs they are still very potent greenhouse gasses. I think the gas in my inhaler has roughly 1500 times the effect of the same amount of CO2. So, a little goes a long way in its environmental impact.

Anyway, I've switched to a new inhaler which combines the two different types I was using before in to one, halving eight sprays a day in to four. There are quite a few combined inhalers out there and they do cut back on physical waste, hydrofluoroalkane emissions and save patients money as well. Less medicine clutter around the house or when you pack to go away too. So, if you take several types a day, you should talk to your doctor.