WASTE MANAGEMENT PROCEDURE

Waste management is the process of separating wastes at the

point of generation and keeping them separate during
handling, accumulation, interim storage and transportation.
The principles underlying waste separations are:
1. To reduce the volume of hazardous waste.
2. To maintain safety standards during handling, transportation
and treatment.
3. To eliminate the need for waste separation of disposal sites.
4. To facilitate the waste cycling process.
Effective waste separation ensures proper disposal pathways for
each category of waste, helps protect personnel and reduces
costs.

Induction and training is provided by staff. Staff are required to;

Become familiar with the type of waste and their appropriate
handling and disposal methods and,
Adopt the procedures below for waste separation using the
correct colour coded bags and bins.
Any query should be discussed with a supervisor.
 Separation of Waste

Waste is separated into the following types;

1. Clinical waste: This is waste that has the potential to cause
sharp injury, injections or public offence, it can include sharps,
blood-stained waste, human tissue and laboratory waste.
Clinical waste should be handled using the appropriate
personal protective equipment.
2. Related Waste: Waste that is contaminated with cytotoxic,
pharmaceutical, chemical or radioactive waste.
3. Pharmaceutical waste: Includes expired or discarded
pharmaceuticals, filters or other materials contaminated by
pharmaceutical products including cytotoxics.
4. Chemical Waste: Generated from the use of chemicals in
medical applications, domestic services, maintenance
laboratories, sterilization processes and research.
5. Radioactive waste: Materials contaminated with radioactive
substances which arises from medical or research use of
radionuclides.
Related waste requires supervision by qualified personnel and
appropriate personal protective equipment should be correctly
worn.
COLOUR DESCRIPTION

Yellow Waste which requires disposal by incineration. Indicative

treatment required is incineration in a suitably permitted or
licensed facility.
Orange Waste which may be treated. Indicative
treatment/disposal required is to be rendered safe in a
suitably permitted or licensed facility usually alternated
treatment plants (ATPs). However this waste may also be
disposed by incineration.
Purple Cytotoxic and cytostatic waste, indicative treatment/disposal
required is incineration in a suitable permitted or licensed
facility.
Yellow/Black Offensive/hygiene waste, indicative treatment/disposal
required is landfill or municipal incineration/energy from
waste at a suitably permitted or licensed facility.
Red Anatomical waste for incineration/indicative
treatment/disposal required is incineration in a suitably
permitted or licensed facility.
Black Domestic (municipal) waste, minimum treatment/disposal
required is landfill, municipal incineration/energy from
waste or other municipal waste treatment process at a
suitably permitted or licensed facility. Recyclable
components should be removed through segregation.
Clear/opaque receptacles may also be used for domestic
waste.
Blue Medicinal waste for incineration/indicative
treatment/disposal required incineration in a suitably
permitted facility.
White Amalgam waste for recovery.