Disposal of Waste

Policy Statement:

11.1    The directorate will make every effort to dispose of waste contaminated by body products safely and in accordance with current legislation and guidance.

Mandatory Procedures:

11.2    All waste contaminated by body products must be disposed of promptly.

11.3    Liquid waste, faecal matter and vomit must be flushed down the toilet or sluice if available.

11.4    Solid waste e.g. paper towels used for spillages, used protective gloves, nappies etc must be placed in a plastic bag, such as a bin liner or carrier bag and then placed in a second plastic bag. This, in turn, must be tied and disposed of through the normal refuse collection. Care must be taken that the bags are not subsequently punctured, are safely contained prior to collection and that the risk of spillage on transfer is minimised.

11.5    In domestic settings, waste resulting from clinical procedures performed by care assistants e.g. dressings, catheter bags etc., must be double bagged and disposed of as described above, unless the relevant health care professional makes other arrangements.

11.6    In establishments, a local protocol for disposal must be established following a risk assessment. For instance:

• Medical waste i.e. incontinence pads, wipes and protective gloves (soiled) will go into yellow bags
  
  
• Clinical waste i.e. gloves, aprons, protective gloves (unsoiled) will go into the specified, separate bins

11.7    The disposal of needles and other sharps is the responsibility of the health care professional or self-medicating service user concerned. In residential homes, where staff may be administering insulin by injection, these sharps must be disposed of using a BS standard sharps container.