Reusable glass vials now an option for prescriptions at Bathurst pharmacy

A Bathurst pharmacy is the first in the province to offer customers the option to get their prescriptions in reusable glass vials instead of plastic ones.

Pharmasave Bathurst Health Centre made the switch this week after ownerAndreas Pohlebegan looking at ways to reduce the use of plastic at homeand be moreenvironmentally friendly.

"All of a sudden, when I was trying to do that it just clicked because I own the pharmacy. It was like, what can I do to make a bigger impact."

Pohlesaid the amount of plastic used at the pharmacy is "incredible."

He soon realized there weren't many options out there, but alocal physician told him abouta pharmacyin Montreal thatwas using the glass vials. After finding a news article, he contacted a pharmacistwho was making use of the green vial option.

"I contacted her and the rest is history. She provided those vials to other pharmacies, so we just contacted her and she helped us with the transition."

Small one-time charge

Making use of the glass vials will be optional for customers, butPohlesaid feedback has beenpositive so far.

"It's relatively new, but we've seen a lot of great feedback from people saying it's a good thing. They didn't realize there was an option like that."

There is a $3 charge for a glass vial, but it is a one-time charge.

"I tell them while it's not mandatory, but you're reducing the amount of plastic vials that are out there and it's reusable so it's not something you have to pay for over and over again when you fill your prescription," Pohle said.

The only gain he wants out of the change is to help reduce the amount of plastic out there.

"There's so much plastic in our oceans,so much plastic in our environment, and it's just trying to do right in trying to reduce that amount."

While there is no option to recycle glass in New Brunswick,Pohle is hoping there will be someday. Hehopes this doesn't deter customers from making the switch.