Almost every waste permit will include conditions regarding effective control of possible insect and rodent infestations.  In the clinical waste sector, this is an uncommon though not unknown problem.

Several possibilities exist. Firstly, problems can arise when a multi-operation site is infested with that infestation spreading inevitably to that section used for clinical waste processing. Secondly, the site may simply be badly managed, with much dirt and debris accumulating in a building that has some structural defects to allow insect and rodent pests to survive and flourish.

Lastly, infestations may be brought from other waste sites via contaminated bins and Eurocarts. We expect that carts will be washed and cleansed before return for reuse, though we are all aware of the conditions that may be found on their return. But clinical waste companies may use also a more general trade waste cart supplied on contract by another waste management company. That cart is unlikely to be washed, or even emptied with care, and provides a carrier for insect and other pests. This, and other routes for infestation of premises have all been observed. Money spent on on-going pest control services and vigilance using traps etc is money well spent.

It is concern that pest control contractors had been summoned to hospitals in Leeds 771 times over the past two and a half years to deal with a grim catalogue of vermin. Among the beastly call-outs were an infestation of cockroaches discovered in an operating theatre, rats reported near a crèche and “hundreds” of flies in an antenatal unit.

The figures date from the beginning of 2011 to last month and also include 203 reports of ants, 155 of silverfish and two of bedbugs. There is much concern about the more obvious issues of hospital hygiene, infection prevention, and safety.

But every day, clinical and other wastes will be collected and transported from the hospital sites. Almost inevitably, those activities will carry with them a range of pests possibly to infest waste management sites and the vehicles used for waste transport. Waste management facilities may become infested via incoming wastes and/or carts provided by general contractors. Similarly, they can be the vector for spread to other sites, by either horizontal spread to adjacent premises, or by vertical spread to other customer premises.