I joined today (28yrs T1)

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GlynBow1

GlynBow1

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
I've joined the message board because I have a frustration that hasn't been resolved by my pharmacy, my local clinic or my diabetes specialist team… How do I dispose of a collection of roughly 7-800 spent insulin pens, some still part filled? My pharmacy refused to take them.
 
GlynBow1 said:
I've joined the message board because I have a frustration that hasn't been resolved by my pharmacy, my local clinic or my diabetes specialist team… How do I dispose of a collection of roughly 7-800 spent insulin pens, some still part filled? My pharmacy refused to take them.
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Much though it grieves me to say it - put them in general waste, although depending on the manufacturer there may be some sort of recycling scheme available. If you want, you could stick a needle on the part-filled ones and airshot the insulin into the garden or something, but really there's nothing in them to cause any hazard to either refuse workers or the general public, other than adding to the plastic mountain. And then get your prescription changed to reusable pens/cartridges - far less impact on the environment, less storage space required and far easier for travel!
 
Welcome @GlynBow1 Remove any sharps and put the pens in your normal rubbish bin. Then get a reuseable pen(s). They’re much better quality IMO and, as you can see, more environmentally friendly.
 
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Unfortunately over the years there have been many discussions on here, the up shot is it varies all across the country.
 
Hi and welcome.

Which insulins do you use?
Novo Nordisk are doing a recycling scheme but then you need to find a place that subscribes to the scheme..... although I think there may be a postal option.

Anything other makes, needles obviously go in sharps bin and pens themselves in landfill rubbish ie household waste.

Then as others have said, get yourself some reuseable pens prescribed and cartridges for them. We can advise what to ask for if we know which insulins you use. Again the cartridges go in household waste but smaller and therefore less environmental impact and less space taken up in the fridge. I too would dispose of any residual insulin in pens or cartridges first by injecting into the ground or the toilet. I have however never yet had any left but then I don't monitor it that closely. 🙄
 

PenCycle

Find out more about PenCycle, a recycling initiative for pre-filled Novo Nordisk pens.
www.pen-cycle.co.uk www.pen-cycle.co.uk

^^ thats the novo recycling and yes, they do have a postal service thing for it. they send you 2 boxes which hold I think 12 pens each but you might be able to get in touch and request a larger supply of boxes if you need to do it via post.
 
GlynBow1 said:
I've joined the message board because I have a frustration that hasn't been resolved by my pharmacy, my local clinic or my diabetes specialist team… How do I dispose of a collection of roughly 7-800 spent insulin pens, some still part filled? My pharmacy refused to take them.
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Welcome to the forum Glyn. Glad that you have found us.

As others have said, needles need to go in the sharps bin, and the rest can go in household waste, or you could access the Novo recycling option if appropriate. It is well worth switching to reusable pens. The insulin cartridges take up a lot less space than the pens.

If you would like to introduce yourself in the newbies section it would be good to know more about how you manage your diabetes, such as what insulins you use. Otherwise just keep the questions coming.
 
GlynBow1 said:
I've joined the message board because I have a frustration that hasn't been resolved by my pharmacy, my local clinic or my diabetes specialist team… How do I dispose of a collection of roughly 7-800 spent insulin pens, some still part filled? My pharmacy refused to take them.
Click to expand...
Put them in the bin. Then start putting in the bin when you finish them rather than saving up (unless you can use the NovoNordisk recycle scheme but that doesn’t exist for my insulins)
 
Many thanks to all of you who responded. Looks like I've got a trip to household waste disposal :(. When first diagnosed - 1995ish - I was using a pen with disposable cartridges, but that changed when I moved house and diabetes care team. I then used Novorapid and Lantus for many years (hence the collection). I moved again to Northumberland and recently completed a DAFNE course as I'd let my control jump out the window. I'm now using Levemir and Fiasp and achieving better control, but hate the waste I'm generating with disposable pens. Guess I'll have to bear it unless any of you know if Levemir or Fiasp are available in cartridges?
 
I have Levemir and have had FIASP in cartridges that work in the reusable pens.
 
Sounds like you need to ask for a blue and a red NovoPen Echo Plus for your Levemir and Fiasp as those are the pens that the cartridges for those insulins fit. They are really nice quality pens and they have a last dose memory which is really useful for those "Did I or didn't I?" moments.
 
rebrascora said:
Sounds like you need to ask for a blue and a red NovoPen Echo Plus for your Levemir and Fiasp as those are the pens that the cartridges for those insulins fit. They are really nice quality pens and they have a last dose memory which is really useful for those "Did I or didn't I?" moments.
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Or, if you commonly need more than 20 units at a time and don't need half units, Novopen 6. (Which come in silver and blue.)
 
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