NHS Estates Revise ‘Safe Disposal of Clinical Waste’

NHS Estates is currently revising the guidance document ‘Safe Disposal of Clinical Waste’ The new guidance document is to be titled ‘The Safe Management of Healthcare Waste’ is be released for consultation in May 2005. SMDSA member Enviros Consulting Ltd have been contracted to compile the new guidance. The content of the guidance has been approved by a project steering group comprised of representatives from the UK Environmental Regulators, the Health and Safety Executive, the Department of Transport in addition to representatives from the NHS throughout the UK.

The new guidance document has been drafted to take into account recent regulatory changes, notably the Hazardous Waste Regulations (Special Waste in Scotland) and the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment (Amendment) Regulations 2005. The new guidance document is considered to represent ‘best practice’ and introduces a new UK wide colour coded segregation system for all healthcare waste. The SMDSA has been heavily involved in the production of this new guidance, with representatives of the SMDSA attending a number of the ‘expert working groups’ established by NHS Estates to establish what is best practice. The new guidance will form an essential link for the healthcare sector between the Joint Agencies Hazardous Waste guidance WM2 by providing a practical interpretation of what is considered Hazardous Waste. If you interested in participating in the consultation process of the new Healthcare Waste guidance, once released a link to the consultation web site will be available from the SMDSA web site (www.smdsa.com).