Clinical (healthcare) waste includes dressings, gloves and aprons, sharps and medical devices such as stoma bags and tubing.
Healthcare waste from a person with a medically diagnosed infection is classed as 'infectious' waste and needs specialist disposal.
Healthcare waste from an otherwise healthy person is classed as 'offensive' waste and can usually be disposed of as general household waste.
Offensive waste
Waste items such as catheter bags, stoma bags, tubing and 'peg' or stomach feeding equipment which have had no contact with infectious material are classified as 'offensive' household waste.
Incontinence products are also classed as 'offensive' household waste.
These items should be double bagged and disposed of in your black bin with your general rubbish.
If you produce more than a bin bag a week of this waste and/or you are struggling to fit in your black bin we may be able to provide an extra bin. A waste assessment referral form will be needed. Please contact your Doctor’s Surgery or Healthcare Professional who will complete this form and send it back to us directly. We will then be in touch to arrange your collections.
Infectious waste
If you have healthcare waste and have been medically diagnosed with an infection this waste will need to be collected separately from your other waste. We provide a separate weekly collection of this waste in sacks. This waste is then taken to be incinerated.
A waste assessment referral form will be needed. Please contact your Doctor’s Surgery or Healthcare Professional who will complete this form and send it back to us directly. We will then be in touch to arrange your collections.
Sharps
Sharps are used needles and are classified as infectious waste.
Sharps box collections
If you have 'sharps' waste, such as syringes, hypodermic needles, or finger-stick devices (such as for testing blood sugar levels) your healthcare worker or doctor's surgery will give you a yellow 'sharps' box for them at home. When the box is full you should return it and exchange it for an empty one - your healthcare worker or doctor's surgery will let you know how to dispose of it.
Arranging healthcare waste or sharps collection
If you are housebound and have no one else to return your sharps box. We can arrange for a collection.
A waste assessment referral form will be needed. Please contact your Doctor’s Surgery or Healthcare Professional who will complete this form and send it back to us directly. We will then be in touch to arrange your collections.