Clinical & Medical Waste Disposal Services

Clinical waste refers to any waste produced from healthcare, medical, or similar activities that may pose a risk of infection or contamination. It includes items contaminated with bodily fluids, sharps such as needles and scalpels, and materials that could be hazardous to human health or the environment.

Common sources include hospitals, GP surgeries, dental practices, care homes, pharmacies, veterinary clinics, tattoo studios, and beauty salons. Proper disposal is essential to prevent infection, protect staff and patients, and comply with environmental regulations.

Clinical waste is classified and segregated using colour-coded containers and bags based on the type and risk level of the waste (for example, infectious, non-infectious, cytotoxic, or anatomical).

For a more detailed explanation, visit our Clinical Waste Guide.

Clinical waste disposal follows strict regulations to ensure safety, hygiene, and environmental protection. The process depends on the type of waste produced, but typically involves the following steps:

• Segregation: Waste is separated into the correct colour-coded clinical waste bags and containers at the point of use.
• Storage: Secure, labelled storage areas are used until collection to prevent contamination or accidental exposure.
• Collection and transport: Licensed waste carriers collect and transport clinical waste in sealed, approved containers to authorised treatment facilities.

Treatment and disposal:

• Incineration: Used for anatomical and highly infectious waste that cannot be safely treated otherwise.
• Autoclaving (steam sterilisation): Kills microorganisms before safe landfill disposal or recycling.
• Alternative treatments: Some waste streams may be chemically treated or compacted before disposal.

For a more detailed breakdown, see our Clinical Waste Disposal Guidelines.

Clinical waste bins are used to safely collect and segregate all waste that could pose an infection or contamination risk. This includes:

• Sharps: Needles, syringes, scalpels, and other sharp instruments.
• Infectious waste: Contaminated PPE, swabs, dressings, and disposable medical instruments.
• Anatomical waste: Body parts and tissues from surgery or medical research.
• Cytotoxic and cytostatic waste: Materials contaminated by chemotherapy or other cytotoxic drugs.
• Offensive waste: Non-infectious items like used gloves, nappies, and hygiene products.
• Dental waste: Amalgam, fillings, and impression materials.

Each waste type must go in the correct colour-coded bin or bag for compliance and safety.

Find out more about what goes in clinical waste bins.

Clinical waste should not got to landfill. The Controlled Waste Regulations, Hazardous Waste Regulations, and Environmental Protection Act cover the responsible disposal of clinical waste and mandate that it must be disposed of away from landfill sites.

If clinical waste goes to landfill it could spread infection and disease, expose workers and people to pathogens, and contaminate ground, water, and air.

To handle clinical waste you need a waste carrier’s licence. Only licensed waste carriers can move any amount or type of clinical waste, whether it’s a small sharps bin or a bag of used PPE. They must transport this safely to an authorised waste facility that manages and disposed of clinical waste safely and legally (which is detailed in the duty of care certificate/waste transfer note).