Safe disposal of waste
B92
You must take all reasonable steps to deal appropriately with controlled, clinical and offensive waste, including both non-hazardous and hazardous waste196 197 198 199
B93
Controlled waste is defined as waste from households, industry or commerce.
B94
Clinical waste means waste from a healthcare activity¸ and waste of a similar nature from a non-healthcare activity, that:200
- contains viable microorganisms or their toxins which are known or reliably believed to cause disease in humans or other living organisms
- contains, or is contaminated with, a medicine that contains a biologically active pharmaceutical agent
- is a sharp, or a body fluid or other biological material (including human and animal tissue) containing, or contaminated with, a dangerous substance within the meaning of Council Directive 67/548/EEC on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances.
B95
Offensive waste means waste that:201
- is not clinical waste
- contains body fluids, secretions or excretions
-
falls within code 18-01-04, 18-02-03 or 20-01-99 in Schedule 1 to the List of Wastes (England) Regulations 2005, in relation to England,202 or the List of Wastes (Wales) Regulations 2005, in relation to Wales.203
Is covered within the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency’s Guidance on the classification and assessment of waste.204
Is covered within the waste management section of the Northern Ireland Regional Infection Prevention and Control Manual.205
References
196 Environmental Protection Act, 1990 [Accessed 20 Nov 2020]197 The College of Optometrists (2014) Guidance on the disposal of waste (College members only) [Accessed 20 Nov 2020]
198 Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). Clinical waste [Accessed 19 Nov 2020]
199 Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. Waste [Accessed 20 Nov 2020]
200 Controlled Waste Regulations 2012 SI 588 [Accessed 20 Nov 2020]
201 Classify different types of waste [Accessed 20 Nov 2020]
202 The List of Wastes (England) Regulations 2005 SI 895 [Accessed 20 Nov 2020]
203 The List of Wastes (Wales) Regulations 2005 SI 1820 [Accessed 20 Nov 2020]
204 Scottish Environment Protection Agency (2015). Waste Classification [Accessed 23 Nov 2020]
205 The Northern Ireland Regional Infection Prevention and Control Manual. Waste Management [Accessed 23 Nov 2020]