In 2016, thanks to the collection of recycled medicines, 7,000 homes were lit and heated.
The French recycle their medicines. According to the Cyclamed association, which takes care of recovering these unused drugs, nearly 12,000 tonnes of unused tablets were brought back to pharmacies in 2016. This represents 181 grams of drugs per French, and 63% of the estimated total. – a completely honorable score, according to Cyclamed.
In detail, the collection represented 11,884 tonnes for drugs only. If we add to this the packaging of drugs brought back to pharmacies and parapharmacy products, this number stands at 15,874 tonnes. However, this is less than in 2015, the year in which 12,108 tonnes of tablets were brought back (15,477 with boxes).
Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in the lead
While this should be seen as a voluntary act on the part of patients, it should nevertheless be remembered that only unused drugs should be reported; cardboard boxes can be thrown into the recycling bin.
The best students in France are in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté (225 grams per inhabitant), in Hauts-de-France (217) and Pays-de-la-Loire (200).
Eliminated in incinerators
Once collected by pharmacies, unused drugs are grouped together, then disposed of in 55 incinerators which recover the energy in order to use it for heating or lighting. “This made it possible to light and heat the equivalent of 7,000 homes throughout the year,” according to Cyclamed.
In order to better understand the habits of the French in terms of drug recycling, Cyclamed commissioned a survey from the BVA institute. This teaches that 79% of the people questioned say they deposit their unused drugs at the pharmacist; six in ten report them “always”.
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