Medicine Waste in England Could Fill 75 Swimming Pools, Costing the NHS £480 Million a Year

Around 3,400 tonnes of partially used medicines were discarded in England in 2024/25, according to the National Pharmacy Association. Here is what is driving medicine waste and how it could be reduced.

Medicine waste in England is estimated to be costing the NHS at least £480 million every year, with around 3,400 tonnes of partially used medicines discarded during 2024/25, according to the National Pharmacy Association (NPA).

The pharmacy organisation says the volume of discarded medicine could be enough to fill around 75 swimming pools, highlighting the scale of a problem that has financial, environmental and patient safety implications.

The figures were calculated by the NPA using data from local health bodies. The organisation represents around 6,000 independent community pharmacies across the UK.

Why is so much medicine being wasted?

One of the main concerns raised by the NPA is the over-ordering of repeat prescriptions.

Patients who regularly receive medication can sometimes continue ordering medicines that they no longer need. Changes to treatment, improved health, side effects or changes in a patient's prescription can all leave medicines unused.

Once medicine has been dispensed and leaves a pharmacy, it generally cannot simply be returned to stock for another patient. This means unused or unopened medication may still have to be disposed of.

The NPA is therefore encouraging patients to check whether they actually need their medication before ordering repeat prescriptions.

Calls for more regular medication reviews

The organisation also wants people who take several medicines to receive more regular reviews.

Medication reviews can help identify prescriptions that are no longer necessary and ensure patients understand how and when to take the medicines they have been prescribed.

Olivier Picard, chairman of the National Pharmacy Association, said reducing unnecessary medicine waste could free up NHS resources while also helping to address environmental and health concerns.

Patients who are unsure about their medication are being encouraged to speak with their pharmacist rather than simply stopping treatment or changing how they take a medicine themselves.

Medicine waste is also an environmental issue

The financial cost is only part of the problem.

Producing, packaging, transporting and disposing of medicines all require resources. When medication is produced but never used, those resources have been consumed without providing a health benefit.

Safe disposal is also important because medicines should not simply be thrown into household waste or poured down sinks and toilets.

Returning unwanted medicines to a pharmacy allows them to be handled through the appropriate disposal process.

Unused antibiotics could contribute to antimicrobial resistance

Experts have also raised concerns about the potential consequences of keeping leftover antibiotics at home.

Dr Rasha Abdelsalam Elshenawy, a senior lecturer in postgraduate medicine at the University of Hertfordshire, said medicines waste can become a patient safety issue as well as a financial and environmental one.

Using leftover antibiotics without medical advice can be particularly problematic. Antibiotics should only be taken when prescribed and according to professional advice.

Incorrect or unnecessary antibiotic use can contribute to antimicrobial resistance, which makes infections harder to treat.

What can patients do to reduce medicine waste?

There are several simple steps patients can take.

1. Check before ordering repeat prescriptions

Before requesting another prescription, check which medicines you still have and whether you actually need more.

2. Speak to a pharmacist about unused medicines

If you have medicines you no longer need, ask your local pharmacy how they should be disposed of safely.

3. Keep your prescriptions up to date

If your treatment has changed, make sure your repeat prescription list reflects your current medication.

4. Ask about medication reviews

People taking several medicines may benefit from discussing their prescriptions with a healthcare professional to make sure each medicine is still appropriate.

5. Never use someone else's prescription medicine

Unused medication should not be shared with family members or friends, even if they appear to have similar symptoms.

NHS faces a wider medicines challenge

The issue comes at a time when the NHS is also dealing with medicine supply pressures.

Recent warnings have highlighted shortages affecting some medicines, making it particularly important that available medicines are used efficiently.

The NHS has also introduced tools to help patients manage prescriptions digitally, including repeat prescription services through the NHS app.

Reducing unnecessary prescriptions and improving medication reviews could therefore help limit avoidable waste while ensuring patients continue to receive the medicines they need.

The bigger picture

The estimate of 3,400 tonnes of discarded medicines provides a striking illustration of the scale of medicine waste in England. According to the NPA, the associated cost to the NHS is at least £480 million a year.

However, reducing waste is not simply about asking patients to order less.

Better communication between patients, pharmacies, GPs and other healthcare professionals can help ensure that prescription lists remain accurate and that medicines are reviewed when circumstances change.

For patients, the key message is straightforward: only order medicines you need, discuss unwanted or unnecessary medication with a pharmacist or healthcare professional, and dispose of medicines safely.

Sources

• National Pharmacy Association, figures and comments reported in The Independent, 8 August 2026.
• The Guardian, reporting on the NPA's estimate of 3,400 tonnes of medicine waste and the estimated £480 million annual NHS cost.