We collect certain types of clinical waste for free from domestic properties.
If a health professional treats you at home, it is the responsibility of your health professional to take away any clinical waste. This includes any non-sharp items, for example, dressings.
If you are treating yourself at home, then we will collect clinical waste.
Types of waste that don't need a clinical collection
The following types of waste do not require a separate collection. You can put them in your general rubbish:
- home dialysis kits
- incontinence pads
- medical packaging
- nappies and sanitary items
- peg/stomach feeding items
- stoma or catheter bags
- ulcer and other dressings
Please make sure to put them in a securely tied bag in your general rubbish container.
If you produce a large volume of waste that doesn't need clinical collection, you may be able to have an additional wheeled bin. View the new or replacement bin page for more information.
Sharp items
Sharps items include:
- blood sugar test needles and strips
- glass insulin vials
- insulin pumps
- needles, injection cartridges and needle clippers
- injection pens
- short plastic feeding tubes
- used and unwanted medical syringes
- other contaminated medical items
Any sharp items that are used as part of medical treatment at home should be placed into a sharps container straight after use. Never try to take them out again. Only fill the bin to where it says 'Do not fill above this line'. Keep your sharps bin in a safe place, so it's not a risk to other people. Keep it out of the sight and reach of children.
Request a sharps waste collection or delivery
Fill out our online form to request:
- a sharps collectionÂ
- delivery of a new sharps bin
Order a sharps waste collection or a new container
Don't put sharps in other bins
Don't put used needles or other sharps in:
- any type of household bin (for example, a general rubbish bin or a recycling bin)
- a container that's no longer needed, such as a drink can or bottle
Needles can cause injuries. Used needles can carry blood-borne viruses that may be passed on to other people.
Collection schedule
We collect and deliver containers on Mondays. We can only provide this service to a maximum of 60 properties.
We will email you your scheduled collection day. If you don't have an email address, please call SWISCo's customer support team on 01803 701310. You can reach them from Monday to Friday, 8am to 4.30pm.
Sharp containers will be collected as normal on Bank Holiday Mondays.
If your container has not been collected by 6pm on the scheduled collection day, you can report a missed collection.
Drugs or other pharmaceutical products
These items should be returned to your pharmacist for disposal.