Clinical waste colour coding: the standard UK segregation system

The standard system

UK healthcare waste is segregated at the point of production into colour coded streams, with matching colour coded lids on rigid sharps containers. The definitive descriptions and treatment routes are set out in the healthcare waste memorandum commonly known as HTM 07-01 and in your carrier's own acceptance criteria, and those are what you should follow. The summary below is orientation, not a substitute for either.

Orange

Infectious or potentially infectious waste, such as dressings, swabs and disposable items contaminated with blood or bodily fluids.

Yellow

Waste that has to be dealt with by incineration, including anatomical waste and infectious waste that cannot go down an alternative route.

Purple

Cytotoxic and cytostatic waste, including medicines with those properties and anything contaminated with them.

Yellow and black, sometimes called tiger stripe

Offensive or hygiene waste that is not infectious, such as incontinence products and non-infectious sanitary waste.

Blue

Medicinal waste that is not cytotoxic or cytostatic, such as expired or unused stock medicines.

Black

Domestic waste from the premises: the stream that everything not clinical should be in, and the cheapest place for it to be.

Sharps containers

Rigid, puncture resistant containers approved for transporting sharps, with lid colours that follow the same scheme so the contents route correctly. Never overfill: they are filled to the marked line, then closed and labelled.

Why segregation is also a cost decision

Streams are handled and treated differently, and priced accordingly. Waste sitting in a higher cost stream than it belongs in is money spent for no compliance benefit, and the classic example is general domestic waste finding its way into an orange bag because the domestic bin is further from the chair. The fix is placement and training rather than policy: put the right container within arm's reach of where the waste is generated.

Getting it wrong the other way is worse

Under-classifying, putting clinical or hazardous waste into a lower cost stream, is a compliance failure, not a saving. It can lead to rejected loads, which generate their own paperwork, and it puts the people handling your waste at risk. If in doubt, ask your carrier: they would far rather answer the question than deal with a rejected load.

Labelling and storage

• Containers should be labelled so the producing site can be identified: your carrier will tell you what they need on the label.
• Store waste securely and away from public access while it is waiting for collection: secure storage is part of the duty of care on gov.uk.
• Close sharps containers at the fill line, not when they are jammed full.
• Keep the storage area clean, dry and separated by stream so that the right container goes on the right vehicle.

Stream definitions and treatment routes are set by the healthcare waste guidance and by your carrier's acceptance criteria, and they change over time. Confirm your segregation plan with the carrier that actually collects from you rather than relying on a summary page, this one included.