The clinical or sanitary/offensive waste streams are not appropriate for the disposal of waste chemicals. We know that, it’s obvious and entirely reasonable that those with chemical wastes for disposal must make the appropriate arrangements for those additional wastes.

And we know exactly what is meant by chemical waste, or do we?

With no attempt at definition of the ‘catch-all’ term “chemical waste” in the revision to HTM 07 01, we might imagine shenanigans from a certain quarter with regulators seeking to twist words and shift definitions to bring pressure to bear, often unreasonably, to support their own manifesto. After all, everything but empty space is made of “chemicals” – a formal definition of what is meant, or intended to be meant, by the use of what becomes a far too conveniently vague term is absolutely essential.

Is it pharmaceutical chemicals, even in trace amount, or maybe those invisible traces of gel in an empty alchol hand rub bottle? Never mind the science, we have now reached a low point of clinical waste regulation, playing with words and ignoring science.

That is patently unacceptable, but happens time and again.