Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) has been recognised nationally as one of six organisations named as 2026 ‘Pharmie’ award winners by Pharmacycle for embracing blister pack recycling across their extensive regional network. MLHD clinicians have been diverting medication blister and webster packs from landfill since May 2025 through the Wagga Wagga Base Hospital Pharmacy in partnership with Pharmacycle. The blister pack recycling initiative has helped position MLHD as a leader in environmental sustainability, earning national recognition through the 'Pharmie' Awards and more recently, contributing to Wagga Wagga Base Hospital receiving an Excellence in Sustainability Award win at the Riverina Murray Business Awards. Now Griffith Base Hospital is a second collection site supporting the smaller facilities in the western areas of the District, MLHD Sustainability Lead Kym Witney-Soanes said. “Our clinicians have embedded this change over the last 16 months separating this plastic and aluminum waste stream which is recycled into fencing and decking products,” Ms Witney-Soanes said. Preparing blister packs for recycling is simple in our hospitals. Staff ensure they are empty with no pills, fluids or syringes. Once containers are full, staff transport to either Griffith Base Hospital or Wagga Wagga Base Hospital. To prevent infection, MLHD staff do not recycle any strips that have been inside rooms of patients with known infections. “To date MLHD has separated 227 kilograms of blister packs diverting just over two tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent from the atmosphere contributing towards our circular economy sustainability goals.” Community members are encouraged to also collect their medication blister and webster packs. These can be dropped off at Blooms the Chemist locations. Expired or unwanted medicines can also be returned to pharmacists for safe disposal.
