Veterinary Waste FAQ’s
General
Controlled Drugs
Cremations
Duty of Care
Collections
Veterinary Waste
Hazardous Waste
Confidential & Electrical Waste
How do I segregate my veterinary waste for collection and disposal?
The first port of call is to read our ‘Veterinary Guide to Waste Segregation’ poster. This poster can be ordered online to display in your practice for veterinary staff to read. Click Here to order.
Our online resources and FAQs sections will also answer many of your questions, however, if you are still unsure of anything our Client Services team are available to answer your queries. Please click here to view contact information.
If you still need help our team can provide you with bespoke in-house (or online) training and support.
If you still need help our team of Accounts Managers can provide you with brief in-house training and support.
Can empty bottles and vials and medicines be mixed in a Medicines and GBVs bin?
Empty glass bottles and vials can be placed into a Medicines and GBVs bin along with out-of-date drugs.
We ask that you complete the label positioned on the outside of the bin detailing the contents, and affix your practice’s personalised barcode label.
What is offensive waste?
Offensive waste is soft veterinary waste that is not infectious, but which is unpleasant and may cause offence to the senses.
Following an item specific risk assessment to determine if the waste is non-infectious, offensive waste may include:
- Animal bedding
- Faeces
- Clinical items e.g. swabs, masks and gloves
Offensive must not contain: – sharps, syringes, body parts, cadavers, medicines, chemicals, glass and other sharps objects.
How do I dispose of anatomical waste (i.e. body parts)?
As per the Environment Agency publication “Using the List of Waste, Version 1, April 2006” (http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/topics/waste/32140.aspx), Anatomical Waste, in the majority of cases, should be classified under the EWC code 18 02 03 – “Waste whose collection and disposal is not subject to special requirements in order to prevent infection”.
Non-Hazardous Anatomical Waste should be placed into Yellow Anatomical Bags, and can be consigned on a Waste Transfer Note for collection.
We appreciate that there will be occasions when Anatomical Waste will be deemed to be Hazardous and should be classified under the EWC code 18 02 02* – “Waste whose collection and disposal is subject to special requirements in order to prevent infection.”
If you have Hazardous Anatomical Waste requiring disposal please our Client Services Team on 01763 207750. Hazardous Anatomical Waste should be placed in an UN approved Yellow Container with a Red Lid for collection and disposal. These containers can be purchased in our consumables ordering section or by calling our Client Services Team.
How do I dispose of flu-absorbers?
A flu-absorber is a canister containing activated charcoal for the purpose of removal of waste anaesthetic gases.
Flu-absorbers should be double bagged and placed into a Medicines and GBVs bin for disposal.
How do I dispose of syringes?
It is best practice to dispose of the syringe and needle as a single unit to avoid ‘needlestick’ injuries using the following sharps containers:
- Blood contaminated syringes > Dispose using a orange lidded sharps bin
- Medicinally contaminated syringes > Dispose using a yellow lidded sharps bin
- Blood and medicinally contaminated syringes > Dispose using a yellow lidded sharps bin
Where the needle and syringe has already been separated, the needle should be disposed of as described above. As for the syringe body the following containers can be used:
- Medicinally contaminated syringes (provided that no blood has been drawn back into the body of the syringe) > Can be disposed of in a blue lidded Medicines & GBV bin.
- Blood contaminated syringes > Can be disposed of in a orange clinical waste bag
- Blood and medicinally contaminated syringes > Dispose using a yellow lidded sharps bin
CPC recommends that veterinary practices adopt best practice to avoid needlestick injuries to veterinary and CPC staff. Please note that CPC has a legal obligation to report non-conforming waste to the authorities should sharps, syringes or other wastes be disposed of incorrectly.
Why do I have to segregate my sharps into yellow and orange lidded sharps containers?
Under the Safe Management of Healthcare Waste (Version 1.0, March 2011) sharps are to be segregated and disposed of in accordance to their medical contamination.
Sharps are to disposed of in the following containers:
- Sharps contaminated with cytotoxic and cytostatic medicines > Dispose of in a purple lidded sharps container
- Sharps contaminated with medicines > Dispose of in a yellow lidded sharps container
- Sharps not contaminated with medicines (i.e. blood contaminated) > Dispose of in a orange lidded sharps container
- Sharps contaminated with medicines and blood > Dispose of in a yellow lidded sharps container
As sharps are not assessed on the basis of infectivity all sharps are considered to be hazardous waste and have to be consigned.
To view our range of sharps containers click here.
Can fixer and developer be disposed of down the drain if I have a silver trap?
Fixer and developer are both classified as hazardous waste and have to be consigned for disposal to a licensed waste contractor using a Consignment Note.
The use of a silver trap does not stop fixer or developer from been classified as hazardous waste under the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005.
Click here to order online.
How do I dispose of photographic x-ray chemicals?
Photographic x-ray chemicals are classified as either fixer or developer.
As a hazardous waste with corrosive properties, we ask that practices under their duty of care obligations ensure fixer and developer:
- is stored in a separate UN approved container/ drum to prevent harmful chemical reactions, and
- the drum is filled to a maximum level of 5cm from the top of the drum to prevent spillages
- the lid of the drum is secure and properly sealed prior to our collection
- your practice’s personalised barcode is affixed to the drum
Click here to order online.