High street pharmacist Boots has made a blister-pack recycling scheme available nationwide.
The firm said the pill-packaging recovery initiative was now in place at more than 800 stores across the UK.
Boots trialled the scheme, which offers loyalty-card rewards in return for waste blister packs, at 100 outlets in the South East last year.
More than 170,000 customers signed up to this pilot, prompting the nationwide rollout.
All blister packs used to hold medications or vitamins can be recycled through the scheme.
Boots Advantage Card members earn 100 points for every five empty packs dropped off at a participating store when spending £5 or more.
Candice Smith, head of ESG at Boots, said: “Taking medicines or vitamins in blister packs is an essential part of everyday life for many of us – even more so during the winter when it is peak cough cold season.
“We know from our pilot scheme that people want a recycling solution for their empty blister packs, which is why we’re now making it available in towns and cities across the country. We look forward to seeing the recycled materials take on a new life as playground equipment and furniture.”
