How can I reuse or recycle … asthma inhalers?
We’ve had another email from Am (who comments as Delusion), this time saying:
My partner is asthmatic and so goes through inhalers. It seems a waste to throw them out, I don’t think there is much to be done with reusing them though I may be wrong.
Does anyone know of anywhere these could be returned for reuse? Even if it is only the plastic outer casing?
My first thought would be to ask the chemist to not include the plastic part with each refill – but if they get the complete inhaler from the pharmaceutical company already packaged up, they probably would end up just throwing them out from the shop. Does anyone know what the situation is with this?
And what about suggestions for reuse? Or recycling the individual bits?
(Photo by Jenny Rollo)
The plastic housing of inhalers contains a precise orifice that disperses the spray in the correct way. The device is designed to last for 1 canister only and therefore a new canister should never be used with an old housing.
Although not stated, the plastic is likely to be a certified pharmaceutical blend such as Makrolon. I think the best you could hope for would be to recycle the case only by putting it with the rest of your plastic recycling.
If your wife doesn’t like the look of her inhaler you can always buy her a nice case to put it in. They are avalable at http://www.respirecases.com
While we are talking about inhalers – what do you do with round ones – they could be put in recycling bin (I think) but they look so usefull and nice..
like the purple round one the picture: http://www.nuh.com.sg/healthinfo/images/dscf0009.jpg
They might or might not be the right kind of plastic to go in the recycling bin, but they almost certainly have parts inside that are not the right kind, or that are not plastic at all.
Some of my neighbours and I amuse ourselves by making science-fiction theatre sets. We tend to collect odd-looking plastic things so we can make aliens etc out of them…
Sad, I know.
That is one of the coolest things ever.
Has anyone found out what to do with their empty inhalers yet? I was thinking of approaching Boots the chemist to see if they would be able to send them back to the supplier to be reused.
Both my son and I use the inhalers-I use the plastic tube part to make weird shaped tassels (for upholstery, wallhangings etc)
My son amuses himself by making robots and model spaceships and uses the (empty) canisters as “components”
Ive read that asthma inhalers are going to be phased out because the propellant in them is dangerous to the ozone. So this may not be a recycling problem much longer.
According to the manufacturers, you can put all the plastic parts out with your other recycling waste.
The manufacturers should instruct people what to do with the empty inhalers. It’s irresponsible if they don’t. It should be on the box that it come with.
My sister is asmatic and when her inhualers run out she sends them to a recyceling plant were they melt it down. So i am sure you will be able to do the same. Hope this helps you. From Suzie.M x
i have asthma an i love it
Hmmm, I was hoping to see some suggestions for crazy crafty ideas but none have appeared. So today I’m going to make it my mission to try and create something interesting out of all my old plastic asthma pumps. Methinks lots of glue may be involved!
this is funny but impractible because you can’t reuse a housing:
http://bitchinlifestyle.tv/Crafts-DIY/Rock-This-House/Crafts-DIY/
that’s all I could find … right … time to make something!