Legislation
Duty of Care
The Environmental Protection Act 1990 & The Waste and Contaminated Land ( Northern Ireland) Order 1997 place a "Duty of Care" on anyone who produces, collects, treats and disposes of waste. This includes feminine hygiene, clinical, sharps, medicines, dental wastes, confidential waste or other waste to be recycled (e.g. cans, paper, bottles and toner cartridges)
The main principles of duty of care are about documenting the transfer of waste and checking up on anyone you transfer waste to (e.g. if they are a registered carrier of waste, if they are taking waste to suitably licensed/permitted sites). You should only use a Contractor who can provide proof of compliance with the legislation.
The waste you produce
- • Environment and Waste
- • Transport
- • Health and Safety
- • The Environmental Protection Act, 1990
- • Environmental Protection (Duty of Care) Regulations (England, Scotland and Wales), 1991
- • Schedule 3 of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH), 2002
• Health and Safety at Work etc Act, 1974
• The Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations, 1996
• The Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) Regulations, 2005
Including but not limited to, the following legislation applies to clinical waste generated in healthcare and non healthcare premises.
Hazardous waste regulations
The Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2005 and the Hazardous Waste (Wales) Regulations 2005 were amended on 6 April 2009 and 18 November 2009 respectively dictates that all premises that produce over 500kg of all types of hazardous waste per year, including electrical, medicinal, infectious, offensive etc., must be registered with the Environment Agency. You can register direct or call Direct Hygiene on 0800 12 9588 and we will register your premises (please be advised a fee would be charged for this service) to register direct go to;
Waste Declaration
As a result of new environmental controls, the UK’s various health agencies re-assessed the classification of clinical-related waste streams, resulting in a single unifying document, titled: HTM 07-01 Safe management of healthcare wastes.
Download PDFs:
Safe Management of Healthcare Waste
Safe Management of Controlled Drugs
Safe Disposal of Medicines Guidance
Hazardous Waste Assessment
British Amalgam Association Guidance
Guidance For Dentists On Waste Amalgam
