Healthcare Waste

Healthcare Waste is waste produced during human or animal healthcare, or related research activity, and covers both Clinical Waste and Offensive Waste [1] [2] [3] and requires specific management measures. Healthcare Waste containing radioactive materials requirements compliance with specific guidance[4].

The Healthcare Waste reported as generated by the most recent DEFRA data[5] was 355 thousand tonnes and, whilst relatively small in the context of total waste generation, is complex and requires specialist management. The tonnage captured in the DEFRA data excludes tonnages that are more broadly classified under Healthcare Waste guidance, but are captured in different parts of the DEFRA data (for example some medicines are captured as Chemical Wastes)

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Types of Healthcare Waste

Healthcare Waste is generally defined[1] as Clinical and Offensive Waste, and the Management of Healthcare Waste is delivered via a category system of colour-coded packaging (whether bin lid, or bags used) as summarised, below, that has a complex set of EWC codes applied [6].

Clinical Waste

Clinical Waste is Healthcare Waste that:

contains viable micro-organisms or their toxins which are known or reliably believed to cause disease in humans or other living organisms

  • contains or is contaminated with a medicine that contains a biologically active pharmaceutical agent
  • Medicine is a drug or other preparation for the treatment or prevention of disease
  • Cytotoxic and cytostatic medicine is medicine that possesses hazardous properties which are toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction.
  • is a sharp, or a body fluid, or other biological material (including human and animal tissue), containing or contaminated with a hazardous substance
  • A sharp is an item that could cause cuts or puncture wounds. This includes needles, hypodermic needles, scalpels and other blades, knives, infusion sets, saws, broken glass, and nails.
  • is waste of a similar nature from a non-healthcare activity

Offensive Waste

Offensive Waste[3] is non-infectious waste which is unpleasant and may cause offence to those coming into contact with it. It includes:

  • outer dressings and protective clothing e.g. masks, gowns and gloves that are not contaminated with body fluids
  • hygiene waste and sanitary protection e.g. nappies and incontinence pads
  • autoclaved laboratory waste.
  • falls within EWC waste codes 18 01 04, 18 02 03 or 20 01 99.

Offensive waste does not include:

  • sharps
  • anatomical waste e.g.body parts, organs or blood
  • chemicals, medicines
  • dental amalgam
  • any waste that is infectious (i.e. a clinical waste)

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Purpose

This category is page-specific and brings together information about Healthcare Wastes across different sectors into a single page for reference.

Approach

Pet Crematoria and Hospital Small Emitters (HSE) process relatively small tonnages and currently excluded from WikiWaste.

Each incinerator in WikiWaste has a dedicated page, and if handled, identifies Clincial Waste tonnage received.

References:

  1. Definition of Healthcare Waste (Environment Agency July 2020)
  2. Definition of Healthcare Waste (SEPA Net Regs for Scotland and Northern Ireland)
  3. Waste (SEPA Net Regs for Scotland and Northern Ireland)
  4. Radioactive substances from hospitals, universities and industry (Environment Agency Permit Approach December 2021)
  5. UK Statistics on Waste
  6. Types of Healthcare Waste by Packaging Colour
  7. Health Technical Memoranda (NHS Page linking to key PDF documents)
  8. COVID-19 RPS
  9. NHS Estates Returns Information Collection (ERIC)
  10. NHS England March 2023)