Waste Handling and Disposal

Question 1

what is infectious waste?

Answer 1

• waste containing micro-organisms or their toxins can cause disease/ infection
• animal bedding
• items used in treatment
• blood and body parts

Question 2

what colour containers should infectious waste be put into?

Answer 2

yellow container for incineration only

Question 3

what colour containers should infectious waste be put into for autoclaving?

Answer 3

(other than body parts or cadavers) should be put into orange container

Question 4

what colour container should contaminated sharps be put into?

Answer 4

yellow sharps container for incineration only

Question 5

what kind of sharps should be put into orange lid containers?

Answer 5

non-pharmaceutically contaminated (not used for meds or drugs) should be placed here for autoclaving

Question 6

what is chemical waste?

Answer 6

• relates to photographic chemicals like waste fixer and developer solutions
• should be separated into separate fixer and developer leak- proof containers for treatment

Question 7

what is cytotoxic waste?

Answer 7

• a product of cytotoxic drug therapy
• waste may come in the form of : glass bottles and vials, clinical items, syringes and sharps, animals

Question 8

what colour container should cytotoxic waste be put into?

Answer 8

purple and yellow containers for incineration only

Question 9

what is non- hazardous waste?

Answer 9

• pharmaceuticals other than cytotoxic drugs
• offensive waste
• domestic rubbish

Question 10

what is offensive waste?

Answer 10

• waste that can be unpleasant and can cause offence to the senses
• it must not pose a risk of infection or other hazards
• may include: items used in treatment, animal bedding, animal faeces
• must not contain body parts or tissue

Question 11

what colour bag does offensive waste need to put into?

Answer 11

• yellow bag with black stripes

Question 12

what are sharps?

Answer 12

• un-used sharps item that has been that has been dropped on the floor prior to being used
• must have a suitable risk assessment

Question 13

what are pharmaceuticals?

Answer 13

• waste contaminated with pharmaceuticals agents- not cytotoxic
• this could include: denatured controlled drugs, prescription medicines, out-of-date drugs, contaminated bottles
• all controlled drugs must be first denatured and the disposed with other pharmaceuticals

Question 14

what colour container should pharmaceutical waste be put into?

Answer 14

a blue leak proof container for incineration

Question 15

how should pet cadavers be disposed of if it’s suspected of harbouring a disease?

Answer 15

follow DEFRA guidelines

Question 16

if a vet considers the cadaver to pose no risk, what can be done with the body?

Answer 16

• buried at home
• buried in a pet cemetery
• cremated

Question 17

how deep must the cadaver be buried?

Answer 17

1.25m deep, 3m from any water source

Question 18

what should the disposal bag for the cadaver be labelled with?

Answer 18

PET CADAVER. CLINICAL WASTE. FOR INCINERATION

Question 19

where should the cadaver be stored?

Answer 19

cold room or freezer to slow decomposition

Question 20

what is domestic waste?

Answer 20

recyclables like: paper, card, drink cans, plastic food containers

Question 21

what does the final disposal of clinical waste involve?

Answer 21

• when containers and bags are full, they should be sealed, labelled and reported to contractor who is licensed to deal with it
• each collection should be accompanied by the appropriate certification and the practice should keep copies