UK waste incinerators 3x as likely to be in deprived areas
Waste incinerators are three times as likely to be situated in the most deprived and ethnically diverse areas of the UK, it has been revealed, raising fears about the impact […]
health and safety
Covid-19 PPE waste from home healthcare delivery
At long last, the Environment Agency have issued revised guidance on the management of PPE from home healthcare workers treating patients with COVID-19 infection. Too little, too late is something […]
Cleansing and PPE waste at a healthcare waste management facility: RPS C1
This COVID-19 regulatory position statement (RPS) applies to: waste from cleaning people or places infected, or potentially infected, with coronavirus (COVID-19) separately collected personal protective equipment (PPE) waste, for example […]
Environment Agency RPS updates
Environment Agency RPS updates: The latest regulatory position statement updates from the Environment Agency. Monitoring emissions from some environmental permitting activities: RPS C7 Emissions to air from Large Combustion Plant in […]
Europol warns of raids on hospital waste to sell used coronavirus masks
Criminals raiding hospital waste to sell used coronavirus masks on the blackmarket is a major threat in Europe, a new report Europol has revealed. Europol says there has been a […]
DEFRA in COVID-19 contingency talks with waste sector
DEFRA is in talks with the waste industry and local authorities about ensuring collection and disposal services continue to operate as the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread across the UK, […]
Defra issues advice to the waste sector because of coronavirus and their household waste
COVID-19 is a huge problem, and that includes a problem for those involved in waste management. In the last 2 days, Defra has issued advice to the waste sector and […]
PHE issues Coronavirus waste disposal advice
In light of the global coronavirus outbreak, Public Health England has issued advice to the public on how to deal with potentially infectious waste. Public Health England recommends all waste […]
Wuhan novel coronavirus (WN-CoV) precautions
Public Health England’s (PHE) advice to primary care services on Wuhan novel coronavirus (WN-CoV) has been updated with guidance on environmental cleaning following a possible case. Whether that will work, […]
NHS Lanarkshire scoops environmental project award
NHS Lanarkshire is celebrating scooping an award for a successful environmental project to reduce the amount of recyclable material being mixed in with clinical waste from hospital operating theatres. The […]
‘Bodies in bins’ detector
World’s first ‘human detector’ to protect homeless people sleeping in bins launched A waste management company has developed a device to help protect homeless people who seek shelter inside industrial […]
Regulator acts after potential ‘risk to human health’ at warehouse
Steps have been taken at a warehouse unlawfully filled with more than 400 tonnes of NHS clinical waste after the Environment Agency raised concerns over a potential “significant risk to […]
Cumbria Crack reports major sharps bin dumping
An investigation has been launched following the discovery of clinical waste dumped on a roadside near Kendal. A member of the public reported seeing a number of black bin bags that […]
HIV outbreak, Pakistan, tops 1,100 cases
Nearly 900 children under 12 are among 1112 cases of HIV infection now confirmed in an outbreak linked to a paediatrician in Ratodero, Pakistan, who reused syringes and IV drips. […]
Clinical waste and needles dumped along Humber
A concerned lady says she is disgusted after seeing the amount of waste dumped along the Humber, which included “used tattoo needles”. She took the shocking images (below), which show […]
GP surgeries forced to store clinical waste in toilets
Pulse is reporting that GP surgeries in Derbyshire are being forced to store clinical waste in toilets after missed collections. Multiple GP surgeries have had to keep clinical waste in their […]
Waste sector risks
Baling machines, shredders and the like present a significant risk of serious injury to workers in the waste sector. In Thailand, a worker using a baling machine to compress plastic […]
Waste exports to Sri Lanka?
It is claimed that human remains have been found in 100 containers of exported recycling sent from UK to Sri Lanka. The British government – the Environment Agency – has […]
Sharps and Overdose Awareness training
A valuable Sharps and Overdose Awareness training session coming up, Manchester on 22 July. And it’s free! About this Event What is a sharp and what injuries can they cause? The […]
Social role valorisation
The ongoing ‘HIV blood’ scandal inquiry continues and it was noticeable that one witness has spoken of the distress caused to her and her late husband when the clinical waste […]
Healthcare regulators seek clinical waste issues
As we have noted before on the Clinical Waste Discussion Forum, healthcare regulators the CQC and its Scottish equivalent frequently record issues with clinical and sharps waste handling, transport, and […]
Scots hospitals risk cross-contamination transporting clinical waste in same trolleys as sterile equipment
Hazardous clinical waste is being transported in the same hospital trolleys as sterile medical equipment — sparking fears of lethal cross-contamination. A whistleblower raised serious safety concerns after claiming roll […]
Rise in needle injuries following HSE Ltd??
Rise in needle injuries following collapse of hospital waste disposal firm. Union bosses have blamed the spate on untrained porters being made to work with hazardous materials. A Scottish health board […]
Pensioners “plagued by vermin from abandoned HES Ltd plant”
A furious pensioner has told how her home is now plagued by rats and putrid pongs from an abandoned medical waste depot. The lady revealed vermin have overrun her garden since […]
Carer slams plans to change waste collections in Sheffield
Well, it’s spreading among Local Authorities who are presumably cash poor and struggling to balance their books. After news of ‘threats’ to charge for domiciliary clinical waste collections when local […]
Call for extra funds for waste management issues
Health chiefs are being urged to plough more resources into Renfrewshire’s main hospital after inspectors uncovered a string of hygiene failures. Concerns have been raised that extra investment is needed to […]
Stericycle losing business?
A broken strap is believed to have a caused a Stericycle clinical (medical) waste spill on a road in Pennsylvania on Thursday. It happened around 1pm Thursday afternoon. What a mess! Apparently, a […]
Hospital porters injured handling clinical waste
Four porters at Inverness’ Raigmore Hospital were injured carrying out work involving clinical waste, the GMB union has said. The union has submitted a collective grievance to NHS Highland about the […]
Shock! Horror! New pictures ‘lay bare scale of NHS body parts scandal’
In a display of remarkable journalistic hyperbole, today’s Daily Mail screams “Shocking new pictures lay bare scale of NHS body parts scandal: Inside waste disposal firm facing criminal probe after […]
Used needles ‘overflowing onto floor’ in public toilet
Secure sharps bins in public and other toilets have become rather common in the last 5-10 years, though there is still much indignation and complaint from the moral majority who […]