Healthcare waste management
The healthcare sector encompasses various providers that cover hospitals, care homes, GP surgeries, pharmacies, dental practices, physical and mental health therapists.
Healthcare waste is crucial, as strict laws govern its disposal. If disposed of incorrectly, healthcare waste not only impact the environment but also the health and wellbeing of people and animals that come into contact with it.
Understanding healthcare waste
Healthcare waste falls into two categories: hazardous and non-hazardous.
Non-hazardous waste comes from food, glass, general recycling and general waste. As hospitals are public facing, often with shops, cafes and dining areas for patients and their families.
Hazardous waste is broadly classified as any material that poses a substantial threat to human health, animal health or the environment, if disposed of incorrectly. Clinical waste is more defined; it is waste generated by healthcare facilities that is hazardous and has disposal requirements. It includes sharps, sanitary waste, hazardous waste (blood related items) and offensive waste (non-infectious but unpleasant waste).
As the hazardous waste poses a higher risk, there are strict legal requirements for healthcare waste management. These are outlined in the Health Technical Memorandum 07-01 guidelines, which highlight 5 key areas.
When adhered to, the guidelines help to protect not only the environment, but they also prevent any legal or financial issues.
Across England, the NHS currently produce about 156,000 tonnes of clinical waste each year, which is the equivalent of around 15 Eiffel Towers. The waste is either disposed of using alternative treatment or high temperature incineration.
Under UK law, waste must be stored, handled and disposed of carefully to meet stringent regulations. For example, all businesses must have a Duty of Care waste transfer note due to permitting regulations (Waste Duty of Care and Environmental Permitting Regulations). Failing to separate, incorrectly storing, or illegally dispose of healthcare waste can result in prosecution, as it is a criminal offence. The fines are proportionate to the severity of the offence, with Magistrates’ Courts issuing fines of up to £50,000, while Crown Courts can impose fines in the £10,000’s or even £10,000,000’s, depending on the size of the organisation, the harm and culpability of the healthcare waste in question.
Healthcare waste legislation and documentation
The laws for healthcare waste collection are much stricter due to the nature of the waste and the impact it can have on people, animals and the environment.
The most common legal document for waste transfers is the Duty of Care: Waste Transfer Note. This confirms the ownership of waste from one person to another and creates a paper trail should there be any wrongdoing regarding the handling and disposal of your waste.
For specific healthcare waste collection, a Hazardous Waste Transfer Note is required and must be signed upon the collection of the waste. It governs that the hazardous waste must be handled more carefully and tracked through the waste journey until it reaches its final destination. All Hazardous Waste Consignment Notes must be stored safely for at least 3 years. This is due to the nature of the waste, and the implications it could have should it come into contact with humans, animals or the environment.
The Health Technical Memorandum 07-01 guidelines were created in 2013 by the Department of Health to offer comprehensive guidance for safe and sustainable healthcare waste management. While this isn’t legislation, the guidelines were introduced to replace the ‘Safe management of healthcare waste’. In 2023, a revised publication was created, with the management and publication being transferred to NHS England.
To remain compliant with healthcare waste collections, certain documentation is required. The documentation is usually supplied by the waste management company and ensures you are fully compliant with current legal requirements and standards. The documents include:
- Waste Transfer Notes: A legal document that proves the transfer of non-hazardous waste between businesses.
- Hazardous Waste Consignment Notes: A legally required document that tracks the transfer of hazardous waste for all parties involved.
Facts and stats
A study conducted by the University of Birmingham found that around 30% of staff are unsure of the correct healthcare waste disposal methods. Leading to incorrect disposal, higher costs, possible legal risks and an unnecessary impact on the environment.
In 2023, the NHS introduced a waste strategy that would transform its healthcare waste management by eliminating unnecessary waste and improving segregation practices. The aim was to make waste disposal more cost effective, efficient and sustainable. As a direct result of this approach, recycling activity increased, with recycling costs rising by 26% since 2023/24. At the same time, reliance on their HTI (High-temperature incineration) significantly reduced, with their HTI cost sharply dropping by 56.7%, bringing their overall cost of disposal down by 15.6%.
Who needs healthcare waste collection?
Why is healthcare waste management important
Proper healthcare waste management is essential to protect patients, staff and the wider public. Compliance with UK laws and regulations ensures that waste is handled safely and responsibly. When healthcare waste is not stored, collected, or disposed of correctly, it increases the risk of injury, infection, and environmental harm and can also result in costly fines or enforcement action.
By working with us at Waste Managed, you will benefit from a reliable bin collection, clearly labelled containers and fully complaint disposal routes. Giving you the confidence that your healthcare waste is handled safely, legally and with minimal disruption to your daily operations.
