What is clinical waste?

Clinical waste is waste from medical, dental, veterinary or similar care that may be infectious or otherwise harmful: used dressings and swabs, sharps, blood and body-fluid waste, tissue, and some medicines. Infectious clinical waste is hazardous (List of Waste code 18 01 03*), moves on a hazardous waste consignment note in colour-coded bags or sharps bins, and is incinerated or treated at a permitted site. Offensive waste, such as nappies, sanitary products and incontinence pads from a non-infectious source, is not hazardous but is still collected separately in tiger-striped bags. Neither goes in a general waste bin or sack. We do not carry clinical waste; we can refer you to one of our partners.