Healthcare Waste: Collection, Storage and Disposal
Published: 13 May 2024
Published: 13 May 2024
Did you know that 15% of healthcare waste is classified as hazardous (WHO 2018)?
In order to minimise the risk of harm from hazardous healthcare waste, it’s crucial to have policies and procedures in place to ensure waste is handled, stored, packaged, labelled and transported correctly (Queensland Government 2022).
The term healthcare waste describes any waste generated through clinical activity, with the majority (about 85%) considered ‘general’ (non-hazardous). Healthcare waste that poses a risk of injury, infection or harm to human health is classified as hazardous (NSW Health 2023).
Hazardous waste includes:
(WHO 2018; Queensland Government 2022)
Note: Urine, faeces, vomit, sputum and meconium are not considered body fluids. Therefore, they need not be treated as hazardous waste and can be flushed or disposed of via landfill without treatment. The only exceptions are if they visibly contain blood, or if the client has a known or suspected communicable disease (VIC DoH 2020).
Adverse effects may result from exposure to hazardous waste or inadvertent release into the environment, including:
(WHO 2018)
Standard 4: The Environment - Outcome 4.2: Infection prevention and control under the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards (Action 4.2.1) requires aged care providers to establish an infection prevention and control system that outlines standard and transmission-based precautions appropriate for the care setting, including waste management and disposal (ACQSC 2024).
Segregation is an integral component of safe waste management, as it allows different types of waste to be easily identified. Segregation must be maintained during storage and transportation (WA DoH 2021).
Waste is segregated using a standardised colour-coding system. Each type of waste should be disposed of into a bin of the designated colour. Staff should separate waste at the time and place it is generated (WA DoH 2021).
Type of Waste | Colour | Symbol |
Clinical (infectious, pathological and sharps waste) |
Yellow | |
Cytotoxic | Purple | |
Radioactive | Red |
(Adapted from Queensland Government 2022)
At the time and place of generation, hazardous waste should be bagged, packaged or placed into a designated container. After this initial collection, there should be no more direct contact with the waste (WA DoH 2021).
When collecting waste in a plastic bag, ensure the bag is strong enough to contain the waste and is appropriately labelled depending on the type of waste. Do not fill the bag beyond two-thirds of its capacity (WA DoH 2021).
The following are important considerations for waste collection:
(WA DoH 2021; Queensland Government 2022)
Sharps containers must have rigid walls (hard, unbendable sides that are resistant to breakage). Some are reusable and must be emptied, cleaned and disinfected appropriately. Single-use sharps containers must never be reused (WA DoH 2021).
When collecting sharps:
(Monash University 2022)
Sharps containers must only be used for objects that can puncture the skin, including:
(Stericycle 2020)
Do not put other objects or non-sharp components of sharps (e.g. IV bags) into sharps containers.
Hazardous waste should have designated storage areas away from food and clean storage areas. Storage areas are expected to be enclosed spaces such as sheds, garages or fenced areas. They must be cleared routinely and provide access to the necessary cleaning materials (NSW Health 2020; WA DoH 2021).
Storage areas must be inaccessible by the public or other unauthorised persons, labelled with appropriate signage, and, ideally, segregated by a lockable door. The flooring of the storage area should be a rigid, impervious surface (e.g. concrete). Certain waste may require refrigeration to prevent decomposition and odour (NSW Health 2020; Queensland Government 2022; WA DoH 2021).
Hazardous waste must be stored in bags and containers according to the colour-coding system (Queensland Government 2022).
There are a variety of treatment methods for hazardous waste. The most appropriate method will depend on the type of waste, with the goal being to:
(WA DoH 2021)
Furthermore, the treatment and disposal process should:
(Queensland Government 2022)
Methods of waste treatment include:
(Queensland Government 2022)
Once treated, the waste is generally sent to landfill. Compaction can be used to decrease the volume of some types of waste before treatment and disposal, but is not an appropriate standalone method (Queensland Government 2022).
The following table outlines the appropriate treatment and disposal options for each type of hazardous waste:
Incineration | Autoclaving and shredding | Chemical disinfection (hypochlorite) and shredding | Chemical disinfection (peroxide and lime) and shredding | Microwave and shredding | Compaction | Landfill | |
Chemical | YES (if licensed) | NO | NO | NO | NO | NO | NO |
Cytotoxic | YES | NO | NO | NO | NO | NO | NO |
Human body parts | YES | NO | NO | YES | NO | NO | NO |
Pharmaceutical | YES | NO | NO | NO | NO | NO | NO |
Radioactive | NO | NO | NO | NO | NO | NO | NO |
Treated clinical | - | - | - | - | - | YES | YES |
Untreated clinical | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES (other than animal carcasses and sharps) | NO (other than in a scheduled area) |
(Adapted from Queensland Government 2022)
Note: Waste disposal chutes must not be used for hazardous waste as they pose a risk of spillage, breakage or harm to staff.
In order to protect staff and clients from harm when they encounter hazardous waste, healthcare organisations must ensure policies and procedures are in place to inform the safe collection, storage and disposal of these materials.
Note: This article is intended as a refresher and should not replace best-practice care. Always refer to your facility's policy on waste management.
Question 1 of 3
Human body parts are classified as what kind of waste?