🩺 Safe Sharps Disposal: A Guide for Healthcare Providers

When it comes to managing clinical waste, few items pose as much risk as sharps. Whether you're a GP surgery, dental clinic, care home, or tattoo studio, safe sharps disposal is not just a best practice—it's a legal requirement.

🔍 What Are Sharps?

Sharps include any item that can puncture or cut the skin, such as:

• Needles

• Syringes

• Scalpels

• Lancets

• Broken glassware used in medical procedures

Improper disposal can lead to serious injuries, infections, and regulatory breaches.

🗂️ Colour Coding: Know Your Bin

In the UK, sharps bins are colour-coded to ensure proper segregation:

Bin Lid Colour

Yellow Sharps contaminated with medicinal products

Orange Sharps not contaminated with medicines

Purple Sharps contaminated with cytotoxic or cytostatic medicines

Always fill bins only to the marked fill line—never overfill​.

✅ Compliance Checklist

To stay compliant with UK regulations:

• Use UN-approved, puncture-resistant sharps bins

• Label bins clearly with date and origin

• Store bins in a secure, upright position

• Arrange regular collections with a licensed waste carrier (like Ecowyse.co.uk!)

• Keep documentation for at least 3 years

💡 Tips for Safer Handling

• Never recap needles

• Dispose of sharps immediately after use

• Train staff regularly on waste protocols

• Use wall-mounted or lockable sharps containers in high-risk areas

🧠 Did You Know?

According to Environmental protection Agency, improper sharps disposal is one of the most common compliance failures in UK healthcare settings ​. Avoid fines and protect your staff by partnering with a trusted waste management provider.

📞 Need Help?

Ecowyse.co.uk offers free waste audits and custom sharps disposal plans for clinics, pharmacies, and care homes across Stoke-on-Trent and beyond.

👉 visit ecowyse.co.uk or email info@ecowyse.co.uk today to learn more.