Clinical waste is classed as a type of hazardous waste. Examples of clinical waste include:
- human or animal tissue
- blood or bodily fluids
- excretions
- drugs or other pharmaceutical products
- swabs or dressings and syringes
- needles or other sharp instruments that may put human health at risk.
Clinical waste must not be disposed of in rubbish or recycling bins at home. If you have a home visit from a healthcare worker, they are responsible for removing any clinical waste produced during that visit.
Local Authorities are responsible for providing hazardous waste collection from patient’s homes. Please see below links for information depending on where you live in mid and south Essex:
Mid Essex: Love Essex – How to dispose of hazardous waste Thurrock Council: Disposing of clinical waste Southend-on-Sea City Council: Hazardous household wasteAs an Integrated Care Board (ICB), we are responsible for arranging the collection and disposal of clinical waste from GP and Community Pharmacy premises only. This service is provided by specialist companies that we contract for that purpose.
ICBs are not responsible for the collection of clinical waste from patient’s homes, and therefore we do not commission services for this purpose.
If you would like to organise clinical waste collection from your home, or have enquiries related to this, please refer to the links above or contact your local council for further information.