If you’ve ever wondered what happens to those tiny silver and plastic blister packs once the last tablet is gone, you’re not alone. For years, they’ve been one of those “too-hard” recyclables that most of us tossed in the bin with a twinge of guilt. But good news travels fast, and this one is worth celebrating.

Pharmacycle, Australia’s only complete blister pack recycling program, has officially hit a huge national milestone: 100 million blister packs recycled since launching in July 2022. That’s more than 150 tonnes of waste saved from landfill, and if you lined those packs up end to end, they would circle the Earth more than nine times. Not bad for something most people used to bin without a second thought.

Turning Blister Packs Into Progress

The achievement is proof that when it comes to sustainability, every little action adds up. Australians across the country have turned a once-tricky piece of waste into a circular economy success story.

Ursi Kernan, Key Account Manager at Pharmacycle, says the milestone reflects our growing commitment to responsible recycling. “It’s proof that Australians care deeply about where their waste ends up and that together, we can build a real circular economy.”

Already since July 2025, more than 22 million blister packs have been recycled through Pharmacycle’s national collection network, a rate that is accelerating each month (woohoo!)

What Makes Pharmacycle Different

Unlike many recycling programs that send materials overseas, every blister pack collected by Pharmacycle is processed right here in Australia. The system separates the aluminium from the plastic using mechanical and electrostatic processes including shredding, grinding, and a touch of clever science so both materials can be reused locally.

Jason Rijnbeek, Head of Strategy at Pharmacycle, says this transparency is key. “It’s about trust. Our partners and participants know that every pack collected is properly processed here in Australia, not shipped offshore or downcycled.”

Pharmacycle’s growth is powered by partnerships with pharmacies, councils, healthcare providers, and brands that share the same goal: making hard to recycle materials a thing of the past.

Celebrating National Recycling Week

There's no better time to spotlight this milestone than National Recycling Week running this week from the 10th to the 16th of November. National Recycling week is Planet Ark’s long running campaign encouraging Australians to rethink waste and close the loop on everyday materials. Since 1996, the initiative has inspired households, schools, and businesses to embrace the waste hierarchy: reduce, reuse, recycle.

This year, Pharmacycle is encouraging everyone to “join the cycle” by dropping off used blister packs at their nearest collection point, you can find yours here. With partners like Blooms The Chemist nearing 20 million packs recycled and Chemist Warehouse close to 40 million, it has never been easier to make an impact.

The Future Is Circular

Pharmacycle proves that sustainability works best when communities, industries, and individuals unite. As Rijnbeek says, “Real circularity happens when everyone plays their part.” With 100 million blister packs recycled, Australians are doing just that.

This milestone is not the finish line, it is just the start. So next time you finish a blister pack, don’t toss it. Drop it off, feel that small spark of pride, and know you are part of something big. Because real change starts in everyday homes with simple choices.

Thanks for tuning in again this week, GFZ's. Ready for another Feel Good story? Check out our blog here about how singer-songwriter Hozier is helping protect the planet with his music. It's a goodie!

With Love, 
Ellie xoxo