Healthcare and pail closet collections

What is healthcare waste?

Healthcare waste is any waste from health care including dressings, gloves, blood, body parts, sharps, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and radioactive materials.

Healthcare waste from a person with a medically diagnosed infection is classified as 'infectious' waste and needs special treatment.
Healthcare waste from an otherwise healthy person is classified as 'offensive' waste and can usually be disposed of as general household waste.

Visit Gov.uk for further advice on the types of waste (opens new window).

We do not provide a separate collection of healthcare waste. If needed, this service will be provided by your GP surgery. 

As long as catheter bags, stoma bags, syringes (with needles removed), tubing and 'peg' or stomach feeding equipment have had no contact with infectious material, they are classified along with incontinence and sanitary products and used disposable nappies as 'offensive' household waste and should be double bagged and disposed of in the blue lidded bin for general rubbish.

Larger blue lidded bins can be provided if the quantity of 'offensive' waste can be managed within the standard collection service. 

Pail closet collections

We operate a pail closet collection service from properties with no access to main sewers or septic tank facilities.

What day will my pail closet collection take place?

Collections are on Friday each week.  

How should I dispose of hypodermic needles?

Used needles should be returned to your GP or local chemist in a prescribed sharps box. 

How do I dispose of medicines?

Medicines should not be placed in your bins. Return unused medicines to your GP surgery or chemist.

Do you remove discarded needles or drug waste?