Waste disposal

Procedures within health and social care settings often generate substantial waste, particularly when they incorporate disposable items such as personal protective equipment (World Health Organization, 2018).

It is the role of the nurse to have a working knowledge of the appropriate means of disposing of any waste (Nursing and Midwifery Council, 2018). Decisions about waste disposal will be informed by local policy, practice and a thorough risk assessment. However, it is important that all staff establish and follow a strict regimen as to how they dispose of waste because, as with all infection prevention and control measures, it only takes one incorrect disposal to potentially be the cause of an infection outbreak or other harm to a colleague.

Nurses disposing of waste in the clinical setting need to have an understanding of the nature of the waste they are producing and how it is disposed of.  The assessment they undertake will consider the nature of the waste. 

Waste should be correctly sorted into the correct type for disposal to ensure the disposal process:

• prevents and manages the risk of infection 
• prevents and manages the risk of injury, for example from sharps
• prevents other forms of contamination, for example from cytotoxic products 
• uses resources wisely 
• maintains patient confidentiality 
• maximises recycling

In all clinical settings, the nurse will need to consider the type of waste they are disposing, including:

• household waste
• clinical waste
• infected waste
• specialist waste, for example radioactive products 
• sharps
• confidential waste
• controlled drug waste 
• waste medications
• recyclable waste

Failing to assess the type of waste properly will mean the nurse is likely to dispose of the waste

The equipment used for waste disposal will depend on the type of waste to be disposed of, for example sharps need to be in a sharps bin, whereas clinical waste should be in a designated clinical waste bag (HM Government, 2024).

With some procedures it may be better to take the means of disposal to the bedside, such as for needles. When handling almost all forms of waste, the nurse will also need to consider the use of personal protective equipment as well as hand hygiene (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 2023). The selection of the correct waste disposal bag or box for the type of waste being produced is detailed in the procedure.

The nurse should put on the appropriate personal protective equipment as per local policy, as well as always attending to good hand hygiene. Good hand hygiene is the cornerstone of good infection control practice and cannot, and should not, be replaced by the use of personal protective equipment.