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Clinical and healthcare waste

Most healthcare waste produced at home can be disposed of through your normal household waste collection. However some types of clinical waste, such as infectious waste and medical sharps, require special handling and disposal.

Disposal of sharps/needles

Medical sharps are items that could cause cuts or puncture injuries. These include:

  • needles and the needle part of syringes

  • scalpels and other blades

  • the patient end of an infusion set

We do not currently provide a household sharps collection service, and sharps and needles should not be disposed of in your usual household waste.

If you need to dispose of sharps, such as from insulin needles if you have diabetes or from weight loss injections, you should contact your GP or healthcare provider to arrange this.

Changes to the disposal of sharps

We're aware that changes to sharps disposal arrangements in some areas may currently be making it more difficult for you to dispose of full sharps boxes. We're working with our partners to identify a solution and will update this webpage when more information is available.

Using a sharps box safely

When your sharps container reaches the fill line:

  • securely close and lock the lid

  • follow the manufacturer's instructions to seal the container

  • store the sealed container safely out of the reach of children and pets

Never place sharps, needles or sealed sharps boxes in your household bins.

What to do if your sharps box is full

If your sharps box is full:

  • contact your GP surgery, specialist nurse or healthcare practitioner for advice on disposal arrangements

  • check whether your pharmacy accepts sealed sharps boxes

If no disposal option is currently available, store the sealed sharps box safely and securely until more guidance is available.

Do not place sharps boxes in any of your household waste or recycling bins.

Infectious healthcare waste

If you have a medically diagnosed infection, any healthcare waste related to this is classed as infectious clinical waste.  You should contact your healthcare provider to arrange the disposal of this type of waste, as it may need special treatment.

Non-infectious healthcare waste

Most non-infectious healthcare waste can be bagged and disposed of as general household waste in your grey bin. This includes items such as:

  • nappies

  • incontinence pads

  • sanitary protection products

  • catheter bags

  • stoma bags

  • tubing 

  • stomach feeding or percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) equipment

If you need to dispose of this type of healthcare waste and you have too much to fit in your grey bin, you can apply for an extra grey bin.