Waste Disposal
Black Bag - Domestic Waste
Sadly, this is all going to end up in landfill.
Examples include:
- Used hand towels
- Outer wrappers
- Inner wrappers (if not contaminated)
- Newspapers
- Food and/or drink containers
Yellow Bag - Clinical Waste
These are not used in all clinical area in an attempt to reduce the number of bins. The main difference between this and the orange bag is that in can be used for pharmaceuticals.
It must be used for infectious and other waste requiring incineration.
Examples include:
- Anatomical waste
- Diagnostic specimens
- Kits containing chemicals
- Reagent or test vials
Orange Bag
Disposal is by 'alternative treatment'. Basically this involves, grinding, steam and eventually heading for landfill.
Waste which is (or potentially could be) contaminated by body fluids.
- IV bags/lines (if NOT pharmaceutically active) and with sharps removed
- No syringes
- No outer wrappers/black bag waste
- No 'blood' specimens
- No sharps