On 25 July 2025, blister pack recycling program Pharmacycle launched Australia’s very first National Blister Pack Recycling Day. The aim was to encourage Aussies to bring back their used medicine blister packs for proper recycling while helping their community in the process.

The inaugural National Blister Pack Recycling Day was an initiative by Pharmacycle designed to encourage Australians to recycle this tricky waste stream. Image: Pharmacycle

The headline event took place in Melbourne’s Bourke Street Mall, where people dropped off their used blister packs. For every pack collected on the day, Pharmacycle donated 10 cents to Melbourne City Mission, supporting vulnerable youth and vital local programs.

It’s all part of a broader mission to tackle an often-overlooked form of packaging waste. Since 2022, Pharmacycle has successfully recycled more than 82 million blister packs, keeping them out of landfill and giving the materials a new life through their localised, closed-loop system.

"This day is a celebration of the change we’ve built together — from households and pharmacies to hospitals and councils — and it’s only just beginning," said Ursi Kernan, Pharmacycle’s Key Account Manager.

"In a world where greenwashing is increasingly common, Pharmacycle stands for transparency, credibility, and integrity. Our partners and participants know exactly where their materials go, and what they become."

Blister packs, typically made from a difficult-to-recycle mix of plastic and aluminium, can’t be processed through standard kerbside systems. Pharmacycle’s program fills that gap with a nationwide network of collection points and a recycling process that keeps materials in Australia.