Aesthetics Waste Disposal

• Managing waste from aesthetics treatments
• Types of aesthetics waste
• Bins and bags for aesthetics waste

Every aesthetics treatment produces some type and amount of waste that must be managed properly. It could simply be a pair of gloves worn when waxing a client, or something that seems more serious, like leftover Botox injections. Most of this will be a type of clinical waste, which you can’t dispose of with general waste.

According to the Controlled Waste Regulations Act 2012, clinical waste is: “any waste which consists wholly or partly of human or animal tissue, blood or other body fluids, excretions, drugs or other pharmaceutical products, swabs or dressings, syringes, needles or other sharp instruments, being waste which unless rendered safe may prove hazardous to any person coming into contact with it.”

Using the correct bin or bag to separate your aesthetic waste protects staff and customers from exposure to potentially harmful waste. It also ensures the waste is segregated and disposed of properly to avoid contamination. Improper disposal of aesthetics waste could result in a fine for your business as well.

Our experts can answer any questions and guide you through the proper processes for managing aesthetic waste from any treatment. Waste audits are available to ensure everything is handled safely.

Every aesthetic and beauty treatment or practice produces some kind of waste. It could just be a pair of gloves worn during a waxing or something that seems trickier to dispose of, like a knife and tools used for liposuction. As most aesthetics waste comes into contact with body parts and fluids, it’s mostly treated as clinical or healthcare waste.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has a colour code for clinical waste management, which applies to most aesthetics waste. All aesthetics waste must be separated and stored in the correct coloured bin or bag to ensure responsible disposal. Discover the right colour bin based on the treatments you provide.

Any items that come into contact with potentially infectious substances (like blood) during an aesthetic treatment can be examples of clinical infectious waste. These should be placed in orange waste bins or bags. They can be treated (cleaned) to make them safe before disposal or they might be incinerated. Examples include:

• Wipes
• Gloves
• Dressings
• Bandages
• Aprons

Botulinum toxin injections (commonly Botox) are the main type of cytostatic waste produced from aesthetics treatments. Everything used in this common treatment must be disposed of with any other cytotoxic and cytostatic waste in a purple waste bin or bag. All such cytotoxic and cytostatic waste is incinerated.

Improper disposal of Botulinum toxin is dangerous as it paralyses or freezes cells. This could have serious consequences if anything contaminated with Botox is touched or consumed by wildlife or people. Therefore, all Botox-related waste must go in a purple bin or bag, such as:

• Used Botox syringes
• Unused or expired botulinum toxin injections
• Gloves, wipes, tools, or anything else that is in contact with botulinum toxin
• Any other used cytostatic/cytotoxic syringes

Safe, efficient, and responsible aesthetics waste management is important for any clinic. Every business has a duty of care under Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, which means you must take all reasonable steps to ensure your waste is managed properly. This includes storage, removal, and disposal.

Improper management of your aesthetics waste could breach this duty of care and result in significant fines for your business. It may also expose staff, customers, and others to potentially hazardous and infectious waste that negatively affects their health. Plus, if aesthetics waste ends up in landfill it adds to pollution levels.