Contact:
  • Waste Services
  • Address:
    Keynsham Town Hall, Temple Street, Keynsham, BS31 1ED
  • E-mail:
    councilconnect@bathnes.gov.uk
  • Telephone:
    01225 39 40 41
  • Fax:
    01225 477809
  • Minicom:
    01225 477309
  • Page Updated:
    22/11/2008
  • Author:
    Waste Services
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Household Waste - Clinical Waste

What is clinical waste?

Clinical waste is defined in the Controlled Waste Regulations 1992. These regulations define it as any waste which consists wholly or partly of:

  • Human or animal tissue
  • Blood or bodily fluids
  • Excretions
  • Medicines or other pharmaceutical products
  • Swabs or dressings
  • Syringes, needles, finger pricking devices and lancets

What responsibility do I have?

If you treat yourself in your own home, it is your responsibility to dispose of waste, clinical or household, in a safe way.

Disposing of needles and syringes (clinical waste) – the safe way

What is the right way to dispose of needles and syringes?

Any used needles or syringes must be put in a sharps bin.  Sharps bins are plastic containers designed for the safe disposal of hazardous waste.  Sharps bins are available on prescription from your doctor.  Please ask your GP surgery to prescribe one for you.  If you pay for prescriptions, normal prescription charges will apply.  Alternatively, your local Pharmacy could sell one to you for less than the prescription charge.  Bath & North East Somerset Council are not able to provide sharps boxes.

What is the wrong way to dispose of needles and syringes?

They should not be put loose into the dustbin as this presents a serious hazard to staff that collect and dispose of waste. Some people put their used needles and syringes into plastic bottles or cans. Again, this is not a good idea because needles can puncture these containers and harm staff involved in waste disposal.

Where do I keep my sharps bin?

Ideally, it should be kept near to where you regularly inject yourself. Then used needles and syringes can be put into it straightaway. Remember to keep it out of the reach of children.

What do I put in my sharps bin?

All needles, empty syringes, empty insulin cartridges and lancets. Some patients use ‘B-D safe clip’ devices to remove the needle from the syringe. This does not need to be done if the needle and syringe are put straight into the sharps bin. You will no longer need a B-D safe clip so please ask your GP practice to remove this from your repeat prescription

What do I do with the sharps bin when it is three quarters full?

The sharps bin must not go in your normal domestic waste collection.  It can be disposed of in one of two ways:

  • By contacting Council Connect on 01225 39 40 41 or via e-mail at  councilconnect@bathnes.gov.uk Please note the following;
    • This service is only open to Bath and North East Somerset domestic residents. 
    • The service is currently free of charge; however we can legally levy a charge if it is deemed necessary.
    • It is preferable if a new request for service is made on your behalf by either your GP, District Nurse, Etc on official NHS headed paper.
    • We do not supply the ‘sharp boxes’, they are available on prescription from the customers GP
    • Collections will take place on either a Thursday or Friday, and you can specify weekly, fortnightly or monthly collection.
    • Alternatively please contact Council Connect when your bin is three quarters full and a collection will be scheduled for the Thursday or Friday of the following working week dependant on the area you live in within the district.