Clinical (medical) waste can be collected by the council from domestic properties only. This kind of medical waste has to be collected and disposed of in a certain way.

How do I get my clinical waste collected?

Call the Customer Contact Centre on 020 8430 2000 and we will take the necessary details.

What happens next?

After we have got your details we will let you know when we will collect your bags/containers.

We will advise on how we will collect your clinical waste. Depending on your needs we will arrange either a scheduled or occasional collection.

Whatever we collect we will replace. For example, if you leave two boxes and three bags with medical waste we will replace it with two new boxes and three new bags.

Clinical waste sacks

When using clinical waste bags, make sure that you never fill the bags more than two thirds full.

You should never put any household or non clinical waste into the bags as it is very expensive to dispose of medical waste and these items only add to the cost.

You must tie the bags before they can be collected. Store your bags in a secure, dry place away from children and animals before collection.

The following items can be placed in a yellow clinical waste bag:

• wound dressings
• swabs
• incontinence pads
• stoma bags (must be emptied into the toilet before placing in the clinical bag)
• items used to dispose of urine, faeces and other bodily secretions and excretions

The following items should never be put into a clinical waste bag:

• syringe needles
• broken glass
• sharp items
• pressurised containers/aerosols

Sharps box

A sharps container is usually a yellow box with a yellow lid. You can put the following items in this container:

• syringe needles
• sharps
• broken glass
• any other sharp items

Store your box(s) in a secure, dry place away from children and animals before collection.

Please ensure that the box's closure device is locked shut before collection and that you do not fill the box above the level limit mark.

Ordering extra containers and bags

If you need extra bags or containers contact the Customer Contact Centre (020 8430 2000) who can arrange this for you. This is free for domestic residents.