RECYCLING & WASTE MANAGEMENT
bags, with appropriate training and signage, can make it straightforward for those disposing of waste.
‘Infectious clinical waste’ should be disposed of in orange bags with UN certification. This is waste that has been produced during the treatment of infectious patients, or those suspected of having an infection. The waste is contaminated with bodily fluids and includes personal protective equipment (PPE) – for example gloves and masks – as well as wipes and dressings. This waste can be disposed of through alternative treatments or incineration.
‘Medicine contaminated infectious clinical waste’ needs to be collected separately in yellow bags with UN certification, as it is only suitable for incineration. This is waste that has been used in the treatment of infectious patients (or suspected infectious patients) which is additionally contaminated with medicines or chemicals. Along with PPE and other material used during treatment, this could include IV bags, lines and tubing that have had medicine added.
DISPOSING
OF DIFFICULT WASTE
Sorting waste is important in ensuring
high recycling levels and reducing landfill, but some materials can prove challenging. James Lee, Cromwell Polythene Managing Director, discusses how clinical waste can be dealt with safely.
Waste from a medical or clinical environment is often dealt with inadequately, meaning resources or energy are not recovered or inappropriate material is sent to landfill. There is also a growing problem of infectious waste being compacted and disposed of together with non-infectious waste.
Poor segregation of materials will lead to increased costs of disposal and may result in prosecution if the waste is considered to be ‘mixed’ and is deemed no longer suitable for the waste treatment or disposal option chosen.
However, it doesn’t have to be difficult and with the correct information and products, the waste can be effectively sorted at source and easily diverted to the correct disposal site. For instance, clearly colour-coded waste
44 | TOMORROW’S FM
‘Offensive waste’ is non-infectious, but as the name suggests not necessarily pleasant. It includes waste that has been produced from the treatment of non-infectious patients which is contaminated with bodily fluid. This includes sanitary and nappy waste. This material should be collected in yellow bags with black printed ‘tiger- stripes’ and can be safely sent to landfill or incineration.
Any waste that is similar to that produced in the home environment should be collected in black or clear liners. It can then go to a materials recovery facility for sorting, or an energy recovery facility or alternatively it may be safely landfilled.
It is essential that any liners used for this type of waste have been independently tested to prove their effectiveness and safety. Alongside the UN packaging certificates required for yellow and orange bags used for infectious waste, buyers should look for recognised quality marks that guarantee dimensional and performance standards. These include the CHSA Refuse Sack Standard, which is appropriate to black refuse sacks, clear recycling sacks, and the yellow tiger bags, alongside ISO quality management principles.
Other things to look out for include performance ratings, contents descriptions, quantity, accurate dimensions, batch references, and minimum net box weights. These should all be clearly visible on the outer packaging.
Higher quality liners – produced using high levels of recycled polythene, even up to 100% recycled material – offer reliability and durability. Liners produced responsibly bring value and efficiencies to the supply chain – weighing less than other non-viable alternatives like glass and metal, they are highly efficient at retaining fluids, and help to eliminate environmental leaching.
If we are to reduce waste and maintain resources in the economy for as long as possible, it’s important we raise awareness of the available solutions.
www.cromwellpolythene.co.uk twitter.com/TomorrowsFM
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