Let’s cut down on medicine waste – only order what need.

AdobeStock_396203497 (cropped).jpeg

Every year, large quantities of unused medicines go to waste across Lancashire and South Cumbria. You can help make a difference by only requesting the medication you actually need.

Why is this important?

  1. To stay well. Unused medicines expire and might not work as intended, meaning your health might suffer. Stockpiling medicines worsens drug shortages.
  2. To stay safe. Stockpiles of medicines kept at home can be dangerous for children and pets. Medicines are only prescribed for you and for safety’s sake should not be shared with anyone else.
  3. To stay green. When you dispose of medicines and inhalers properly, by handing them in to your pharmacy, you are helping to make sure that waste medicines do not pollute our rivers, seas and soil. Medicines account for around 25% of carbon emissions within the NHS in England. Only ordering what you need means that you are helping the environment because once medicines have left the pharmacy, they cannot be used by anyone else.
  4. To stay organised. Taking all of your prescription medicines with you if you are going into hospital means the hospital staff won’t have to order duplicate prescriptions. This helps to avoid wasted medicines and money, and can speed up your care.

What can we do?

The good news is there is a lot we can all do to reduce medicines waste, and everyone can play a part.

Check what medicines you have at home before you order your repeat prescriptions. If you have enough, only request the medicines you need this time. You will still be able to order others again in future

Speak to your pharmacy team if you have any questions about how to change your prescription request.

Check your prescription bag before leaving the pharmacy to make sure that you only have what you need and that there’s nothing extra in there. If you return an item before you leave the pharmacy, the medicines can still be used by someone else.

Dispose of your medicines safely by returning them to your pharmacy to prevent medicines waste entering landfill and polluting rivers, seas and soil.


Return all unwanted and used inhaler devices to your pharmacy for safe disposal, to prevent release of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.

Let your pharmacy team know if you’ve stopped taking any of your medicines or if they’re no longer right for you.

Please attend your medication reviews, or request a medication review, to make sure medicines are optimised for you, and your team can improve your healthcare.

Unused or out of date medicines and inhalers can be returned to your pharmacy for safe disposal.

Always keep a current list of your medicines with you, for example in your wallet or purse or on your phone on the NHS App, and if you know you’re going into hospital take all your medicines with you.

This helps staff have a complete record of what you’re taking, so that the hospital won’t need to dispense more of the same medication and your medicines will be available to take when you need them.

When it’s time to go home take the right medicines with you. Before you leave ask if any changes have been made to your medicines and take home everything that’s still suitable.

Thank you for helping your community to use medicines responsibly.

Return to header