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Recycling

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
I don’t know what’s inside the pen, and I don’t have a sledgehammer to find out. Hard plastics can be difficult to recycle, you’d need to check with your local authority. For sure, the plastic needle covers will recycle.
 
After a bit of research, it looks like disposable pens aren’t routinely recyclable - they are not marked with the usual plastic type in any event. This is the fault of the manufacturers. It wouldn’t be rocket science to use recyclable material. You could, for example, make them out of glass for a retro feel.
 
'Disposable' pens are so Eco unfriendly it's ridiculous. A lot of people opt for re-usable pens where the insulin cartridges some separately (in boxes of 5) and you just rewind the piston manually by just screwing the end where you 'dial up' the airshot and dose, the opposite way - because of this issue - hardly difficult. Bearing in mind you are not suddenly going to give up taking insulin under all normal circumstances, the fact that the re-usable pens cost more, each to begin with, is I think what stops GP surgeries prescribing them. They actually last for donkeys years in use so it's a totally false economy. My diabetes care has always been from hospital diabetes clinics and I've never had anything other than re-usables, once I've tried any new insulin and decided I like it and want to continue with that one.

The re-usable pens (Novopens for all Novo Nordisks insulins) are more robust and comfy in the hand to use, far smoother and less 'clicky' than the disposables ever.

However - an insulin cartridge - same as the vials - will never be recyclable as they are glass with a metal collar
which seals the plastic 'bung' on the top of them.
 
Depends were you live. Not recyclable in my area. Yoghurt pots, meat trays , horlicks containers, etc.... It’s a minefield. Plus it is not a legal requirement to recycle. They force you by emptying bins every 3 weeks. What annoys me is all these high rise tower blocks don’t recycle. Neither does street sweeper.
 
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