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Alison Wilby – Marketing Manager, Griffiths & Nielsen Ltd

With legislation coming into force at the end of this year making the use of UN approved wheeled bins and rigid containers essential, many hospitals are already introducing such containers to their departments.

The Regulations require that from 1^st January 2002 all Healthcare risk wastes (Groups A-D) are contained in UN approved rigid packaging when transported on the road. Providing the rigid container or wheeled bin has been tested and approved in combination with (or containing) plastic sacks, wastes can continue to be stored in yellow sacks etc prior to disposal, and then placed in the rigid UN packaging for transport. In addition, bags and sacks can continue to be used where disposal will be on site, or to contain Sanpro and Group E wastes for external disposal (since these are exempt from the Regulations).

However, UN type-approved containers will give the highest level of protection to staff and others handling the waste. Using such containers will prevent confusion between waste for on-site and off-site disposal.

Even where waste is not transported on public roads, it is recognised that risks associated with handling sacks are minimised when the sack is placed in a rigid container, and to comply with COSHH, waste producers need to ensure that clinical waste is packaged safely. Therefore, to prevent any mishap it is best practice to use UN type-approved containers.

A full range of rigid clinical waste containers is available from SMDSA member, Griffiths & Nielsen Ltd.