Classification of waste

Waste regulations require the classification of waste based on hazardous characteristics.

• Special (hazardous) waste. Special waste includes a range of controlled wastes, defined by legislation, which contain dangerous or hazardous substances. Examples of special (hazardous) waste resulting from healthcare activities includes sharps, infectious or potentially infectious clinical waste and some pharmaceuticals or medicinal wastes.
• Non-hazardous waste is residual waste produced in both clinical and non-clinical settings which may include dry recyclates (glass, paper and plastics, metals, cardboard), food waste, packaging waste and furniture.

Segregation (separating) of waste

Waste bags in care homes should be colour coded to denote the different waste streams.

Different types of waste will be produced within care homes.
Some waste may be considered non-hazardous, for example paper hand towels, while other types of waste need special handling and disposal because of their hazardous properties for example, sharps and waste from service users who have or may have an infection.

SHTN 03-01 contains a full colour-coded waste segregation guide however, the most frequently used waste streams are summarised below.

• Black (non-hazardous)
  • residual waste remaining after all source segregated recyclates have been removed.
• Orange (infectious)
  • consists of infectious or potentially infectious substances or items.
  • orange lidded leak resistant receptacles may be used for solidified infectious liquids.
  • orange bags may be used for items such as PPE, spillage kits, swabs or dressings contaminated or likely to be contaminated with blood and/or body fluids including saliva.
  • orange lidded sharps box used for sharps disposal only

Local risk assessed processes for waste disposal should be followed and guidance from local contractors may apply.

Safe management of waste

Care home staff should ensure:

• all waste is managed according to relevant legislation and any local risk assessed processes 
• the appropriate PPE is used when handling any special (hazardous) waste
• waste is disposed of as close to the point of use as possible, and segregated using the correct colour-coded waste bag or container compliant with UN and relevant industry standards
• liquid waste is disposed of via the toilet or macerator, or where this is not possible, solidified and placed in an appropriate rigid leak resistant receptacle
• clearly marked and secure containers for sharps disposal are available where sharps are used
• schedules are in place for the cleaning, emptying and uplifting of waste bins and waste does not accumulate in corridors, rooms, care areas or other publicly accessible areas
• waste bags are never overfilled and have been appropriately sealed, labelled and marked with the date and location before being stored for uplift. 
• waste bags are securely sealed using a closure technique such as a ‘swan neck’
  • a ‘swan neck’ is a way of closing bag by tying in a loop and securing with a zip tie or tape to make a handle
• there is a dedicated area for the storage of waste that is secure and not accessible to residents or the public
• any PPE is removed, and hand hygiene is performed after handling waste

 

Read the safe disposal of waste literature review to find out more about why we do things this way when dealing with waste.