England discards 3,400 tonnes of unused medicines annually, enough to fill 75 swimming pools, according to the National Pharmacy Association's 2024-25 estimates.
This issue costs the National Health Service at least £480 million annually
Aug 09, 2026
02:43 pm
What's the storyA recent estimate by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has revealed that the amount of wasted medicines in England is equivalent to filling 75 swimming pools every year.
The NPA found that 3,400 tons of partially used medications were disposed of in England during the period from 2024-25.
The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) estimates that 3,400 tonnes worth of partially used medicines were disposed of in England…
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Wasted medicine in England could fill 75 swimming pools a year, pharmacy group says
‘75 swimming pools’ worth of wasted medicine thrown away in England every year
The amount of medicine we waste could fill 75 swimming pools a year
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