Disposal of couch rolls

An interesting discussion of Podiatry Forum questions the responsibility for the costs of disposal of clinical waste sacks in a shared consulting room. Though that is not our concern, it is interesting to read the various comments suggesting in the main that costs stay firmly with the contract holder and that some formal agreement should be sought with other ‘users’.

http://www.podiatry-arena.com/podiatry-forum/showthread.php?p=185874

The real issue is in the initial complaint, that the sacks get filled with couch roll paper.

But as always, the devil is in the detail. Couch roll paper, unless soiled with faeces or blood etc, is general waste and need not go into a clinical waste sack for disposal. It might even be combined with other paper waste for recycling.

Sadly, this is not common. Vast quantities of couch roll paper is used in podiatry, and in many other services. GP examination couches, physio, hospital outpatients and A&E, radiography etc. Indeed, radiography services produce vast quantities of paper waste from couch rolls and at the start of this year I was able to help one major radiology centre in London eliminate over 40 orange sacks of waste filled with nothing but couch roll paper. Others, including our friends on the Podiatry Forum might take the same approach to segregation.

4 Comments


  1. So I can put my used couch roll straight in the mixed recycling? It can be recycled?

    Reply

  2. Hi There
    Can someone confirm for me if couch roll has been used for a beauty treatment especially massage and it does have massage oil on it and it may also have saliva on it as many clients fall asleep in massage and may produce saliva which goes on the roll.
    If this is the case should that couch roll then go into clinical waste?

    Reply

    1. Certainly not clinical/healthcare waste, but with oil probably not recyclable either.

      Seems like general refuse but with an eye on environmental protection and green disposal, perhaps check with your contractor with info about the amount of paper waste you anticipate and some idea of how much contaminating oil is likely.

      Good luck

      Ian

      Reply

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