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ITV expert says people can get money off at Boots with empty medicine packets

High street chains like Boots have these recycling schemes in place that 'pay'

[Young adult woman hand fingers holding and showing empty blister pack without pills on light blue table background. Pastel color. Closeup. Point of view shot. Top down view.]

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Empty medicine packets could be worth something if people don't throw them away (Image: Getty)

People could get money off at Boots every time they finish the last of their medicine, an expert has claimed. People who regularly shop at the high street chain could get money back on their empty medication packaging, which could quickly add up.

Journalist Alice Beer, who regularly appears on ITV's This Morning as its consumer expert, says people shouldn't just throw their old medicine packets in the bin when they're done. Instead, they could be 'paid' for recycling them in specific high street stores.

She said the packaging that medication is regularly in is called a blister pack. "Basically what your tablets come in," she said "You can recycle them, and you can make money out of recycling.

"If you go to somewhere like Boots and Superdrug, they've teamed up with recycling companies. They now have the wherewithal to put these blister packs in a bin, and they will be recycled properly."

You cannot normally put medicine blister packs in your home recycling bin because they mix thin plastic and metal foil, local sorting machines cannot separate them. But, the packets that find themselves in these specific bins at Boots will not only go on to be reused as something else, but shoppers can also get 'paid' for their contributions

Alice said: "Now, it does require a little extra work on behalf of the consumer. But if I told you there was money in it for you, you might engage."

She said that Boots has its own app - Recycle at Boots. This free app lets shoppers scan their empty packets that are then deposited at recycling points in stores across the UK. For more details, click here.

Alice said: "When you've got five [items] that have been approved, you deposit them into the specialised bin and you will get 100 Advantage Points [worth 1]. But think of it this way, every time I go into Boots now, I've got 20% off."

[Shoppers who have scanned enough eligible items should deposit their empties at these points across the UK]

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Shoppers who have scanned enough eligible items should deposit their empties at these points across the UK(Image: Boots)

What can you recycle?

• Makeup and skincare: Mascara tubes, lipstick cases, eyeshadow palettes, and travel minis
• Dental care: Toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes, and floss dispensers
• Baby items: Formula lids and scoops, baby wipe packets, and nappy packaging
• Blister packs: Empty vitamin and medicine blister packs
• Vitamins: Plastic vitamin and medicine bottles

Because these items would otherwise be going in your general waste bin, people who take advantage of schemes like the one at Boots could benefit from money off their next purchase. Find your nearest store that offers a Recycle at Boots collection point here.

Alice suggested that people keep a box or small bin in their bathroom to collect their empties - from baby wipe packets to medicine packets. The recycling point accepts all sorts of empties that Brits can't recycle normally at home. For more details, click here.

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