NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is urging patients to return their used inhalers to a pharmacy to help protect the planet.

The health board is asking people with asthma to dispose of their inhalers correctly to cut down on their environmental impact.

They say by returning old inhalers to local pharmacies, patients can “minimise” their carbon footprint as the health service has specialist waste management facilities that can destroy any remaining gases from them through environmentally friendly methods.

According to NHSGGC the process of destroying them helps to ensure potent greenhouse gases are not released into the environment.

Dr Peter Cawston, a GP on NHSGGC's Clinical Sustainability Group, said: “Inhalers are absolutely crucial medical interventions for a large number of people across NHSGGC but it’s really important our patients know how to dispose of them appropriately.

“If we put them in a regular household waste or recycling bin, unfortunately, any remaining gases will be released into the atmosphere which damages the environment.

“That’s why we’re reminding patients to bring them back to the pharmacy. We have specialist disposal units to help ensure no unnecessary gases are released.”

Inhalers are a vital treatment used by people with asthma and approximately 45 million inhalers are used in the UK every year.

NHSGGC say they can contain greenhouse gases that are 1,000 times more potent than carbon dioxide and by returning used ones to pharmacies, patients can help reduce the impact of the gasses.

The health board also reminded patients that they should continue using their inhalers as prescribed and that the gasses are not harmful to them.