Disposal of Unwanted Medicines
With effect from 1st September 2021, Anenta Ltd will manage the contracts for clinical waste collections and returned medicines from community pharmacy sites in West Yorkshire. You will continue to get collections from your current waste contractor (SRCL, Rentokil Initial, or PHS, etc), however all queries related to waste management must now go to Anenta.
Contractors should read the NHSE Letter and complete the online form to register your pharmacy.
Anenta will be your single point of contact for clinical and pharmaceutical waste issues. Anenta operate an online system that will allow you to interact with them to make service requests, advise of deficiencies in the service or to simply seek advice in a fully auditable manner.
Important Contact Details
For urgent collections or additional stock please contact Anenta:
Tel: 03301 222 143
Email: support@anenta.com
Or, open a service ticket within your online account at www.vector.anenta.com
Sip Feeds
Following queries about the return of sip feeds to community pharmacy as waste medicines, NHSE has shared the following information in the document below.
NHSE Guidance: Disposal of Sip Feeds
Disposal of Needles, Syringes and Sharps
Signposting Patients
The majority of pharmacies do not accept sharps for disposal therefore patients should be signposted to the relevant Local Authority in which they live – details below. If there is known to be a pharmacy in your area that does accept sharps bins back for disposal, please do not signpost the patient without contacting the pharmacy first to confirm they are still able to accept sharps bins.
- Bradford: https://www.bradford.gov.uk/recycling-and-waste/hazardous-waste/syringes-needles-and-sharps-bins/
- Calderdale: https://www.calderdale.gov.uk/v2/residents/environment-planning-and-building/waste-and-recycling/household-collections/clinical-waste
- Kirklees: Suggest patient contact the council customer service for advice: https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/contact-the-council/frequent-contacts/default.aspx?customerservices
- Leeds: Suggest patient contact the council customer service for advice: https://www.leeds.gov.uk/residents/bins-and-recycling/medical-waste
- Wakefield: https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/bins-recycling-and-environmental-health/specialist-services/medical-sharps-bin-collection/
Disposal of Sharps Bins
Information for contractors: This is not a funded service. Pharmacies agreeing to accept sharps waste from patients will not receive any additional funding.
Pharmacy contractors may opt in to accept sharps bins containing needles, syringes and sharps for disposal from patients. Sharps should only be accepted if they are taken to the pharmacy in sealed sharps bins.
If you do not have a sharps bin, but would like to offer sharps returns to your patients, please contact the West Yorkshire ICB. Contact details can be found here.
PenCycle Recycling Initiative
Novo Nordisk recycling scheme, PenCycle, is being implemented across West Yorkshire to reduce plastic devices entering UK landfills. The recycling scheme is for pre-filled Novo Nordisk pens used for diabetes and weight management treatments.
Community Pharmacy West Yorkshire and West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership are encouraging community pharmacies across the region to sign-up and participate in the recycling scheme.
Pharmacies that sign up to the scheme will receive a welcome pack, materials and a returns box provided free of charge by Alliance Healthcare who will also collect the returns boxes when full. PenCycle has been rolling out nationally since September, following pilots in Greater Manchester, Leicestershire & Rutland, and Glasgow. PenCycle is free of charge. All materials needed to start patients recycling their used pens will be made available to you. The scheme has been developed to work within your daily processes and systems to ensure minimal workload is needed.
More information about the scheme is available in the document below including key points to consider before signing up. Please ensure to read all the information included. PenCycle registrations are now open on the Alliance Healthcare website. Once registered, pharmacies will receive bins and patient boxes, leaflets and posters etc.
PenCycle Recycling Initiative – May 2023
Last Updated: 5th April 2024
