The effective and controlled disposal of offensive waste is something that is absolutely vital to health care practices. Not only in terms of adhering to the strict health and safety regulations imposed on them but also – and perhaps more importantly – to protect staff, patients and collection workers alike.

So what actually IS offensive waste? Well it’s not waste that shouts obscenities at you from across the street, but rather the name given to a collection of wastes deemed; non-infectious, non-hazardous and not needing a specialist means of disposal – but does cause offence to those who may come into contact with it. Such waste includes:

• human and animal faeces
• vomit
• urine
• nappies
• sanitary waste

However, offensive waste can still cause infections like conjunctivitis if germs and bacteria are allowed to spread. That being said, it’s imperative that the disposal of such waste is carried out in a safe and controlled manner in order to avoid any bacteria spreading and minimising the risks associated. Here’s a few DO’s and DON’Ts to bear in mind when disposing of offensive waste:

DO: Dispose of all offensive waste in the correctly coloured bags… That being the yellow and black striped bag (tiger bag).

DON’T: Manually compact bags and overfill them so much so that they cannot be carried by the neck.

DO: Clearly mark/label ALL waste disposal bags/bins, otherwise your collector/loader may not be able to remove them.

DON’T: Place any sharps in offensive waste bags. If such an event occurs, please contact your waste collector for advice on the safest means of disposal.

For more information on offensive waste disposal, please refer to our services pages.