Some types of healthcare-related waste are suitable for disposal in your black bin. This waste can have an offensive odour or appearance but is not infectious. We recommend putting this waste in tied bags to reduce the chance of leakages.
Examples include:
- Catheter and stoma bags (drained)
- Wound dressings (non-infectious)
- Soiled bedding (vomit, human waste)
- Nasal and respiratory secretions
- Condoms
- Sanitary waste
- Nappies
- Plasters
- Incontinence pads
We offer free clinical waste collections if you need to self-medicate at home.
Before requesting a collection, note that:
- it's your nurse's or medical professional’s responsibility to dispose of your clinical waste if you've been treated at home
- we don't provide replacement yellow sharps (needles) boxes - you need to request these from your healthcare provider
- we don't collect medical waste from businesses, charities or doctors’ surgeries
- we won't collect loose needles or needles presented in any container other than a sealed sharps box
See further information about:
- sharps box collections
- bagged clinical waste collections
- missed clinical waste collections
- additional help with household waste collections
Sharps box collections
Call us on 01904 551551 to arrange the collection of a minimum of two yellow or purple sharps boxes obtained from your healthcare provider if you’re receiving ongoing treatment.
We will need to know the size of any box being collected (in litres) and the total number of boxes which need collecting, to complete a booking.
If these details are incorrect, we will not be able to complete the collection.
Call us on 01904 551551 to discuss how we can help you if you have a single sharps box, following a one-off course of treatment.
Bagged clinical waste collections
We can also collect your orange bagged clinical waste.
This service is only for infectious waste such as surgical waste and pharmaceutical products and can only be collected following a referral from York District Hospital. Do not put clinical waste in your normal rubbish bin – the collection crew will not be able to empty it.
Missed clinical waste collections
See details of how we deal with missed clinical waste collections.
Any missed collections should not be reported until the next working day following the agreed collection date.
Additional help with household waste collections
Contact us to discuss how we can help you dispose of medical waste that may not fit in your normal rubbish bin or recycling boxes, or if your current bin is insufficient for the amount of medical waste you are producing.
We may be able to arrange:
- a larger black bin for household waste (if you live in a wheeled bin collection area)
- weekly refuse collections
- assisted waste collections if you have difficulty moving your bins or boxes due to your age or a disability
