Clinical Waste

Whether it is clinical waste management, removal or disposal, at Fresh Start Waste we provide a full compliant, reliable and cost-effective solution.

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What is clinical waste?

Clinical waste is waste which arises from healthcare activities or within a laboratory and can pose a threat to human health or the environment if left.

A range of medical waste types need to be disposed of in a responsible and legally compliant way.

Items to consider as clinical waste can include:

Cytostatic and cytotoxic waste – blister packs, medicinal vials, patches, disposable garments/gloves/wipes contaminated with cyctostatic and cytotoxic medicines.
Laboratory waste.
Bagged clinical waste.
Anatomical waste – organs, body parts, blood bags.
Soiled or offensive waste.
Infectious waste.
Sanitary waste.

CWR Controlled Waste Regulations 2012, defines this type of waste as that which occurs from any healthcare activity, including dentistry and veterinary healthcare. Some of these wastes can be a danger to those who come into contact with them which is why this is so intensively legislated.

Which industries or sectors require a clinical waste collection and disposal service?

There are few businesses which do not produce some sort of clinical waste, with the most common being sanitary waste disposal, however key sectors we work with at Fresh Start Waste include:

Doctors and dentists surgeries.
Hospitals.
Schools.
Nursing homes.
Clinics and health centres.
Veterinary practices.
Works medical facilities.
Scientific laboratories.

What happens to Clinical waste once it is collected?

As a rule true this type of waste is disposed of by incineration.

Following storage of items in appropriate clinical waste containers or bins, collection of this waste sees it transported to a high temperature incineration facility.

The extremely high temperatures applied to the waste works to combust and destroy all organic substances that are present within it. Incineration is usually the choice for anatomical, cytotoxic and cytostatic, radioactive, and contaminated sharps waste.

If not incinerated, the waste is processed by thermal disinfection systems. This is where heat is applied to render it non-hazardous, and it can then be recovered, disposed of or recycled in an alternative way. This is suitable for waste including swabs, dressings, and gowns which are more likely disposed of via thermal disinfection.

We have high-temperature incinerators which are used to dispose of the waste accordingly. These operate at a minimum temperature of 1,100 degrees centigrade. We also use autoclave and microwave facilities, where appropriate and we have several alternative technology facilities for lower grade wastes, such as food waste.

There are strict guidelines for dealing with medical waste due to the fact it has the potential to be extremely dangerous to humans, animals and the environment.