Disposal of Unwanted Medicines
See national guidance and other patient safety resources on the Community Pharmacy England website here: https://cpe.org.uk/quality-and-regulations/clinical-governance/patient-safety-incident-reporting/
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
Patients who request information about the disposal of sharps should be directed to the information from the Local Authority in which they live (see below) or be directed to a pharmacy that accepts waste (after first contacting the pharmacy to confirm they are currently able to accept sharps bins for disposal).
- 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-and-environment/bins-and-recycling/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.
Sharps Bin Return
This is for people who have been prescribed needles, syringes or sharps. For any needles or syringes found in a public area, you should contact your local council to arrange for disposal.
A list of pharmacies providing this service can be found on the link below:
Pharmacies Disposing of Prescribed Sharps – Updated 2022
The above list was updated in January 2022. If your pharmacy appears on this list and you no longer accept sharps or if you do accept sharps and your pharmacy details are omitted, please advise info@cpwy.org. If you do not have a sharps bin, but would like to offer sharps returns to your patients, please contact NHS England (NHSE) Area Team. 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: 10th May 2023
