The selection of colour coding for clinical waste containers, dictated by the notional properties of those wastes and in particular the risk of infection – yellow or orange – is rather straightforward, though as we have discussed many times previously not entirely logical in its rationale. Leaving that aside, most wastes will be categorised as not being of particularly high risk and will be bagged in orange.

Not so in Derbyshire Dales District Council where yellow is still the only choice. As for so many other local authorities, the change from yellow to orange just seems to have passed them by. It is difficult to envisage any possible risk assessment however generalised it might be that could justify this.

It is not an isolated occurrence. Indeed, many local authorities – as demonstrated once more in the 2011/12 local authority clinical waste audit – take a similar outdated view on colour coding, which sits uncomfortably against their sometimes bullish attitudes toward even the slightest error in householder segregation of recyclables. Waste contractors seem not to mind. The Environment Agency takes no notice and continues to sit on its hands, oblivious to the mess that is clinical waste segregation and coding, a mess that is of its own making.

http://www.derbyshiredales.gov.uk/environment-and-waste/waste-a-recycling/faqs/clinical-waste