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Disposal of Waste. Waste Disposal Legislation. The Environmental Protection Act 1992 Controlled Waste Regulations 1992 The Control of Pollution Act 1974 The Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005 The List of Waste Regulations 2005. Types of waste. Household. Industrial (including vets).
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Waste Disposal Legislation The Environmental Protection Act 1992 Controlled Waste Regulations 1992 The Control of Pollution Act 1974 The Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005 The List of Waste Regulations 2005
Types of waste Household Industrial (including vets) Commercial
Waste Segregation Hazardous Non-hazardous Pharmaceuticals Non-infectious cadavers Domestic waste • Infectious (clinical waste) • Cytotoxic & cytostatic pharmaceuticals • Photographic chemicals • Contaminated sharps • Infectious cadavers
Clinical/Infectious waste • swabs, dressings and animal bedding • contaminated clothing (e.g. masks and gloves) • blood, animal tissue, small body parts • diagnostic test kits and cultures • Yellow bags ‘Clinical waste: infectious, containing anatomical waste and diagnostic chemicals, for incineration only’ • Orange bags ‘Clinical waste: infectious, suitable for alternative treatment’
Contaminated sharps Sharps contaminated with pharmaceuticals (not cytotoxic) Incinerated Sharps that have been used to administer medications
Non Contaminated Sharps Sharps not contaminated with pharmaceuticals Sharps that have not been used to administer medications Autoclaved
Cytotoxic & Cytostatic Pharmaceuticals • Medicinal products that are toxic, carcinogenic or mutagenic • used glass bottles or vials • PPE • swabs • syringes • medicines (regardless of whether tablet, liquid, cream or aerosol • bedding
Cytotoxic & Cytostatic Pharmaceuticals • Disposal • Yellow sharps containers with purple lid • Yellow clinical waste bag with purple stripe down front • The container or bag should be labelled: ‘Clinical Waste’ Cytotoxic and Cytostatic wastes
Radiography Waste • Photographic chemicals • X-ray fixer – hazardous waste • X-ray developer – hazardous waste • Waste film • Empty fixer and developer containers • Fixer and developer should be stored in separate leak proof containers and sent to a registered facility for either recovery or recycling
Non-Hazardous Waste • Pharmaceuticals • Controlled drugs • Prescription only medicine • Out-of-date drugs • Contaminated bottles, syringe bodies, packaging and items used in their handling and administration • Disposal • Secure, leak proof containers. • No specific colour coding – contact waste contractor for advice
Infectious Cadavers A cadaver is classed as infectious if it has had a disease that was caused by a micro-organism. The disposal bag should be labelled as follows: ‘Pet cadaver, clinical waste, infectious, for incineration only’.
Non-infectious Cadavers • Any cadaver that’s death was not caused by a micro-organism is classed as non-infectious. • Disposal of a non-infectious cadaver: • Owner can bury at home • Pet cemetery can bury • Pet crematoria can cremate • Clinical waste company can incinerate.
Industrial waste Non hazardous waste placed in black bags and sealed with a plastic tie. Removed by local authority.
Waste collection • Clinical waste bags, cadavers and sharps safes should be sealed, labelled and removed from the premises by a licensed and registered carrier with dedicated vehicles. • Paperwork should be kept to ensure it is all traceable.
Scavenging Types of scavenging available: • Passive • Active • Active – passive 22mm bore tubing should be used Maximum length = 8 feet
Activated charcoal absorbers • Work as a passive system • Tube leads to a canister rather than to the outside • Absorbs waste gases and gets heavier as it becomes exhausted • DOES NOT ABSORB N2O (nitrous oxide) • When it is exhausted it stops absorbing gas and it is released directly into the room
Active scavenging • A vacuum pump to suck away the expired gas through a closed system to the outside • Can be installed in theatre • Much more expensive than passive but more effective
Active-passive • Similar to passive • Gas is passed to a forced ventilation system rather than to the outside • May re-circulate gas • May cause explosions • May dump gas in another area of the workplace