Blister Packs (Pills, Gum) Do Not Put In Recycling Even though blister packs are made of plastic and may contain foil, they are not accepted by most recycling programs. Due to their small, flat shape, they fall through the cracks at the recycling sorting facility or end up contaminating other flat items like paper and cardboard. Blister packs should be disposed of in the trash and avoided in the future if other packaging options are available. Safely Dispose of Medication If your blister pack still contains medication, be sure to dispose of it properly. Find out how to dispose of medicine and prescription drugs. Ways to Reduce Avoid Blister Packs When Possible Blister packs aren’t made with recycling in mind, so it’s best to avoid buying items that come in blister packaging whenever possible. Did You Know? The Toxic Side of Plastic #3 Plastic #3, also known as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), is not only the least recyclable plastic, but also one of the most toxic plastics used to make consumer goods. Exposure to its chemicals, which include dioxins and phthalates, can result in hormone and gene disruption, birth defects and cancer. Plastic #3 is used to make items such as blister packs, plastic tablecloths, credit cards, shoes, clothing and furniture.