Help us reduce medicines waste – only order what you need

Posted on August 12th, 2026

Did you know that a large amount of medicines are wasted each year in Cheshire and Merseyside?

We need your help to tackle this. By only ordering what you need, you can help yourself, your community, and the environment.

• Stay Well & Safe: Ordering only what you need helps prevent stockpiling. Unused medicines can expire and may not work as intended, and keeping a stockpile at home increases risks for you, your children, and pets. Remember, medicines are prescribed for you and should never be shared.

• Stay Green: Medicines account for around 25% of the NHS carbon footprint in England. Once a medicine leaves the pharmacy, it cannot be used by anyone else. By reducing waste, you are helping to prevent pollution in our rivers, seas, and soil.

• Stay Organised: Before ordering your repeat prescription, please check what you already have at home. Only request the items you need this time. If you are going into hospital, take your current medicines with you to help staff provide seamless care and avoid unnecessary duplicate prescriptions.

What you can do:

1. Check before you order: Review your current medicines at home before requesting your repeat prescription
2. Check your bag: Before leaving the pharmacy, make sure you have only what you need.
3. Dispose of medicines safely: Return any unused or out-of-date medicines and used inhalers to your pharmacy for safe disposal.
4. Attend your medication reviews.

Thank you for helping your community reduce medicine waste. For more information, please visit: Reducing medicines waste – only order what you need – NHS Cheshire and Merseyside