Despite the rain and hail on September 14th, the Zero Waste Victoria Festival successfully united people committed to a greener, more sustainable future. This was Pharmacycle's second time attending, and it was encouraging to see the event's growth. Engaging with like-minded individuals and organisations was inspiring, reinforcing Pharmacycle’s mission to make blister pack recycling a standard in Australia.
Our stand attracted many visitors interested in learning about blister pack recycling. We received numerous questions, but three stood out as the most frequently asked:
Where can I drop off my blister packs?
You can easily find your nearest drop-off location by using the 'Find a Location' feature on our website. All you need to do is enter your address and voilà, you'll see your closest locations sorted by distance right in front of your eyes. Click here to find your nearest location
Collect your blister packs at home, take them to your local drop off point and place them into the specially marked Pharmacycle box. If you’re heading to a participating pharmacy, you can recycle your blister packs whilst picking up medications or shopping for essentials. Please only drop off your own individual blister packs and that of your immediate family to ensure a positive experience for all.
Collected blister packs are sent to our Sydney processing facility, where they are first sorted to remove any contamination. After this they are processed using specialised equipment that breaks down the blister packs into a fine particle size. During this process the aluminium and plastic are delaminated. Delaminated material is finally passed through air density and electrostatic separation to separate the two materials. Once separated, the recovered aluminium and plastic is held in bulk bags until there is enough volume to transfer to our end manufacturers. The aluminium becomes de-oxidant pucks which are used in the steel making process and the plastic is transformed into engineered decking & fencing products. This gives new life to materials that would have otherwise ended up in landfill. Discover more about our manufacturing partners and their processes here.
A key theme of the day was the importance of making sustainable choices, with food stalls setting an example by reusing plates and cups instead of relying on recycling, effectively reducing waste.
Recognizing that the path to sustainability can be overwhelming, a panel discussion titled "From Personal Practice to Policy" offered strategies to shift from feeling daunted to feeling empowered in taking sustainable actions.
Building on this idea, Pharmacycle offers a simple and effective solution that empowers individuals to practice sustainability in their daily lives. By providing an easy way to recycle blister packs, Pharmacycle turns what can feel like a complex challenge into an accessible action, enabling everyone to contribute to reducing waste and promoting a more sustainable future.
This year’s event provided another fantastic opportunity to promote our cause and raise awareness about the issue of blister pack waste, while also showcasing the positive impact Pharmacycle is making. A big thank you to the event organizers, Zero Waste Victoria, and to everyone who stopped by to chat with us– your support is what drives our mission forward. Together, let’s keep making a positive impact—one blister pack at a time!
