So I have tweeted Mathew Hancock MP and sent him a link to the petition. Wonder if he will respond but I will be writing to him shortly. To summarise I shall be requesting that he : (1) roll out a fresh nationwide campaign to educate the public and health care providers in ways to minimise waste of prescription medicines (2) to request another look at recycling some items. With regard to education - it is quite surprising how few people realise that the unused medicines they hand back to the Chemist are destroyed and how people have no idea of how much these medicines cost the NHS. Simple tips like checking the medicines dispensed before you leave the Pharmacy - anything not required or dispensed in error can be put back on the shelf if you have not left the premises but even if you have only just stepped out of the door with them they have to be destroyed. Apart from the cost of the medicines destroyed there is also the cost of the actual incineration and the paperwork involved. With regard to recycling - many charities for the elderly will accept mobility aids ; animal rescue centres and charities will gratefully accept items like syringes, disposable gloves, wound creams, dressings, eye wash etc; needle exchanges for drug addicts will accept syringes ; shelters for the homeless will accept food supplements - every organisation has it's unique guidelines so this is just a general overview. There are also overseas aid charities that will accept certain unused, boxed, in date medication. Again the internet is a great source of information - there is too much to include here. Again my thanks for the support I have received so far. Please do talk to your friends about these issues. We can all do our bit to help. Sharing this petition will also help to spread the message even if the government is too preoccupied with Brexit to be bothered.