NSLHD supports Australia-first recycling pilot for medical injection pens
Northern Sydney Local Health District is supporting a new Australia-first initiative to reduce medical waste, with Royal North Shore Hospital set to take part in a pilot recycling program for used injection pens. The pilot is part of Novo Nordisk’s global ReMed take-back initiative and brings together partners across the healthcare system, including Pharmacycle, TerryWhite Chemmart and St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney. The program is expected to launch later this year, allowing patients to return used pre-filled injection pens at participating pharmacy locations and hospital sites, including Royal North Shore Hospital. The initiative will test safe collection of the injection pens along reviewing transport and recycling pathways with a focus on recovering valuable materials that would otherwise end up in landfill. At Royal North Shore Hospital alone, it is
estimated that up to 20,000 injection pens are used by patients each year through endocrinology services, contributing to approximately 850 kilograms of waste annually. Northern Sydney Local Health District Director of Population and Planetary Health Paul Klarenaar said the initiative represents an important step forward. “We are grateful to be part of this pilot at Royal North Shore Hospital and excited to support a practical step toward reducing medical waste and advancing a more sustainable, circular approach to healthcare,” he said. The program will contribute to the district’s broader sustainability goals, including its commitment to achieving net zero by 2035 for those emissions we control (scopes 1 and 2), with a 50 per cent reduction in emissions we can influence (scope 3 emissions).
NSLHD was represented at the launch event by RNSH endocrinologist Professor Sarah Glastras (middle), NSLHD Planetary Health Manager Nicola Groskops and NSLHD Sustainable Procurement Implementation Manager David Russell.
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