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Methods of Clinical Waste Disposal – Which Bag is Best?

Special consideration is needed when dealing with clinical waste, which requires different treatment and disposal methods appropriate to the hazard it may present – offensive, infectious, contaminated with medicines, cytotoxic. Yellow or Orange bags may be used for collection, storage, transport, treatment and disposal, with printed information pertaining to the standard design weight (contents capacity) and, in the case of infectious waste, the UN packaging certification number.

Clinical Waste - Yellow

Yellow Bags  – for infectious waste, including medicine contaminated infectious waste.

This is waste that has been used in the treatments of infectious patients, those suspected of having an infection and are contaminated with medicines or chemicals. For example:

  • PPE (gloves, masks aprons)
  • Wipes, dressings, plasters and bandages
  • Incontinence waste
  • Empty saline or glucose IV bags, and tubing (no active medicines added)
  • IV Bags, lines and tubing that have had medicine added
  • Chemically contaminated waste.

This waste must be sent for incineration (with energy from waste).

Orange Clinical Waste Bag

Orange Bags – for Infectious Clinical Waste.

This is waste arising from the treatment of infectious patients, or those suspected of having an infection, possibly contaminated with bodily fluids. NOT containing medicine contaminated waste. For example:

  • PPE (gloves, masks aprons)
  • Wipes, dressings, plasters and bandages
  • Incontinence waste
  • Empty saline or glucose IV bags, and tubing (no active medicines added

This waste may be sent for incineration (with energy from waste) or Alternative Treatment (AT) facilities.

Antimicrobial tiger sack for clinical waste


Yellow Bags with Black Stripe (Tiger Bags)
 – for offensive waste (inc. sanitary / nappy waste).

For waste arising from the treatment of non-infectious patients, possibly containing bodily fluids, for example:

  • PPE (gloves, masks aprons)
  • Wipes, dressings, plasters and bandages – non infectious
  • Incontinence waste – non infectious
  • Soiled sanitary towels and tampons – from public and work based female toilets
  • Nappies – from baby changing areas and nurseries.

This waste may be sent to landfill, or incineration, or AT.

Black clinical waste refuse sack


Black Bags – 
General Domestic Waste

This is for waste that is similar to that produced in the home environment, none recyclable, for example:

  • Flowers
  • Food waste and associated packaging
  • Used medicine tots
  • Sweet wrappers

This waste may be disposed of by landfill or EFW

Natural (Clear) Bags –  Mixed Dry Recycling

For waste similar to that produced in the home environment, which is recyclable, for example:

  • Paper / cardboard
  • Paper towels
  • Newspapers/magazines
  • Clean plastic and tins.

This waste may be sent to MRF (Materials Recovery Facility)

DOWNLOAD INFOGRAPHIC

This waste may be sent to MRF (Materials Recovery Facility)

View our full range of Clinical Waste Sacks here. You can contact our friendly team to discuss your requirements, we can advice you on the best bag for your waste.

Learn more about clinical waste.