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 waste209, 210, 211, 212
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:213
- 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:214
- 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,215 or the List of Wastes (Wales) Regulations 2005, in relation to Wales.216
Is covered within the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency’s Guidance on the classification and assessment of waste.217
Is covered within the waste management section of the Northern Ireland Regional Infection Prevention and Control Manual.218
References
209 Environmental Protection Act, 1990 [Accessed 1 Nov 2023]210 The College of Optometrists (2014) Guidance on the disposal of waste (College members only) [Accessed 1 Nov 2023]
211 Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). Clinical waste [Accessed 1 Nov 2023]
212 Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. Waste [Accessed 1 Nov 2023]
213 Controlled Waste Regulations 2012 SI 588 [Accessed 1 Nov 2023]
214 Classify different types of waste [Accessed 1 Nov 2023]
215 The List of Wastes (England) Regulations 2005 SI 895 [Accessed 1 Nov 2023]
216 The List of Wastes (Wales) Regulations 2005 SI 1820 [Accessed 1 Nov 2023]
217 Scottish Environment Protection Agency (2015). Waste Classification [Accessed 1 Nov 2023]
218 The Northern Ireland Regional Infection Prevention and Control Manual. Waste Management [Accessed 1 Nov 2023]