Clinical waste

Find information on hazardous and non-hazardous clinical waste and how to dispose of it.

Clinical waste is:

  • blood or bodily fluids
  • excretions
  • drugs or other pharmaceutical products
  • swabs or dressings
  • syringes, needles or other sharp instruments

Clinical waste can be either hazardous or non-hazardous.

Hazardous clinical waste

This can only be collected by specialised companies, who have staff trained to collect the waste in a modified and licensed vehicle. All hazardous clinical waste must be incinerated.

Non-hazardous clinical waste

Non-hazardous clinical waste, such as incontinence pads, can be bagged and put into your normal household domestic waste and disposed of using the black wheeled bin. 

Clinical waste from businesses

We do not collect clinical waste from businesses or commercial organisations. You’ll need to contact a specialist, licensed waste contractor.

Needles and syringes (sharps)

Hypodermic needles and syringes should never be disposed of in household domestic waste. You should put them in a sharps box. These can be prescribed by your GP. They should be returned to the prescribing doctor’s surgery for disposal when full.

Clinical waste disposal in North Yorkshire

You should always contact your doctor or healthcare professional about disposing of clinical waste.  

Clinical waste disposal is managed by former district and borough council waste collection teams. Use the location checker to find out who to contact about clinical waste disposal in your area.
 

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