Clinical waste

Some types of healthcare waste need to be disposed of separately to protect residents, waste crews and the wider community.

Please check the guidance below to find out how to dispose of your healthcare waste correctly.

Sharps waste

Sharps are items that can cut or pierce the skin, such as:

• Needles
• Syringes
• Lancets
• Other sharp medical items

Sharps must be placed in an approved sharps box and should never be placed in your recycling bin or black bin.

If sharps enter the waste collection system, they can cause serious health and safety risks for our crews.

Arranging a sharps collection

We offer sharps collections on request. Please contact us to arrange a collection when you have sharps that need disposing of.

To arrange a collection, please contact our Contact Centre by calling 01827 715341 or emailing customerservices@northwarks.gov.uk. A manual booking will be created and our waste team will be notified.

Home-care services have their own processes in place for the collection and disposal of sharps generated through their services.

Offensive waste

Offensive waste is healthcare waste that does not contain an infection risk.

Examples include:

• Dressings
• Human faeces
• Incontinence pads
• Catheters
• Stoma bags
• Nappies
• Sanitary waste
• Nasal secretions
• Sputum
• Vomit
• Soiled human bedding from someone without an infection

These items, and similar waste, can be placed in your black bin for your normal household waste collection.

Waste from someone with an infection

If the waste is from someone who has an infection, for example someone being treated with antibiotics, please contact us and let us know your requirements.

We will provide advice on the correct disposal arrangements.