A pharmaceutical company is asking pharmacists in Leicestershire to take part in an inhaler recycling scheme.

Chiesi Limited, a company based in Parma that researches and develops medicines in respiratory, neonatology, rare disease and special care therapeutic areas, has started the Take Action for Inhaler Recycling (Take AIR) initiative alongside Leicestershire and Rutland LPC and University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust.

The year-long pilot will give people the chance to dispose of their empty, unwanted or out-of-date inhalers by asking their local pharmacist for a pre-paid postage envelope which they can fill with up to four inhalers and post.

Chiesi said that while the scheme is limited to the three pilot areas, “all inhalers of any brand and type can also still be returned to any community pharmacy for safe disposal.

“We are proud to support the Chiesi Limited scheme alongside the local pharmaceutical committee for Leicestershire & Rutland, to bring this innovative scheme to the people of Leicestershire,” said Dr Anna Murphy, consultant respiratory pharmacist at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust.

“We all want to do our bit to help the environment and at this current time, with many of us wanting to limit how often we go into closed spaces, a postal-based scheme is a great way for people in the area to easily recycle their used inhalers.”

Around 73 million inhalers are used in the UK each year.