Book a clinical waste or sharps collection

You can request a collection of hazardous or infectious healthcare waste, including needles and syringes.

Many types of healthcare waste can be put into your rubbish bin. However, healthcare waste that is hazardous or infectious (also known as clinical waste) must be collected separately from household waste.

Clinical waste

Use the link below to book a clinical waste collection.

Request a clinical waste collection – Joint Waste Solutions

Clinical waste includes:

  • swabs, wound dressings or bandages that are contaminated with infectious or hazardous substances
  • wound vacuum drains or pumps

Your doctor or nurse will advise if your waste should be collected separately, and provide you with a coloured sack to put it in (usually an orange sack).

Healthcare waste that is not hazardous or infectious can be put in your normal rubbish bin. This includes:

  • dressings and bandages
  • incontinence pads
  • sanitary products
  • stoma bags
  • catheter waste (after contents has been disposed of in a toilet)
  • ‘peg’ or stomach feeding equipment
  • home dialysis waste (empty saline or glucose IV bags and tubing)

You may wish to double-bag the waste before disposal. 

If you have an infectious illness or are undergoing treatment with cytotoxic or cytostatic drugs (such as chemotherapy), then the items listed above may be hazardous and should be collected as clinical waste.

Sharps (needles and syringes)

Sharps such as needles or syringes should never be put in with normal household rubbish, even if they haven’t been used. They should always be placed in a sharps box, provided by your GP or nurse, which we will collect and dispose of safely.

Use the link below to book a sharps collection.

Request a sharps collection – Joint Waste Solutions

Ensure that the lid is securely attached to the sharps box before placing it out for collection.

Medicines

Unwanted and out of date medicines should be taken to your local pharmacy. Do not put them in your normal rubbish bin. However, you can put empty blister packets of tablets in your rubbish bin.

Empty non-contaminated packaging and containers for medicines can be put in your recycling bin. This could include:

  • clean plastic or glass bottles
  • cardboard boxes
  • paper instructions