It’s easy done, and very effective. Though there is rapidly increasing concern about teh presence of pharmaceutical residues in wastewater, and thereby in natural waters, little seems to be done […]
Sharp eyed visitors will notice a new Ask for Evidence link on our home page. Blenkharn Environmental is pleased to support the Ask for Evidence campaign of Sense about Science. As […]
There is a foolhardy and sadly widely held opinion that only the three bloodborne viruses – HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C – can be transmitted by sharps injury. That is not […]
Sussex County (US) beaches are still littered with wastes including clinical waste. Though most reports assume that syringes and needles are washed ashore with on the tide there is little evidence […]
There is no doubt that in US and UK prisons, needles are a widespread problem and major health risk. The risk of sharps injury is high since needles are not […]
A news report tells of a number of needles found with black refuse sack on a street in Flintshire, and the finder just happened to be the local mayor! With […]
Medicine drop boxes may be a practical option for the disposal of unwanted medicinal products. Sited in convenient locations, they would receive prescription and non-prescription products removing wastes accumulating in […]
Scotland’s GPs are complaining that the free prescription policy in Scotland puts on them extra pressure with patients wanting their free prescription for this, that and the other. Last updated: […]
A miscarriage is always a tragedy and our hearts will go out to those involved. However, it is an inevitable consequence that miscarriage results in a disposal requirement that may be […]
The proposed US Pharmaceutical Stewardship Act of 2011 (HR 2939) would “set up a nonprofit corporation financed by pharmaceutical producers which would be responsible for establishing comprehensive drug take-back programs […]
A plastic surgeon is opening a ‘fat bank’ that will allow patients to store their own body fat for future use. Dr Jeffrey Hartog, from Seminole County, FL, has developed […]
Ashfield District Council has upset at least one resident by ‘dumping’ clinical waste collections from most households. Over the last five years, one 43 year old resident who spends nine […]
On the Clinical Waste Discussion Forum, we have repeatedly made reference to the local and regional collection schemes for hazardous household waste that collect from householders sharps waste, some clinical […]
Advertising flimflam is usually quite obvious. Bold and exaggerated claims and highly selective quotes clipped out of context are usually easy to spot. The law says much about the use […]
Quite rightly, there is great concern about the presence of trace concentrations of certain – and realistically, about the presence of any – pharmaceuticals in drinking water. Taking the broader […]
The impact of pharmaceutical residues in water is largely unknown and though the evidence base is slowly growing this is somewhat piecemeal. It remains clear that the key problem is […]
It is generally difficult to perceive pharmaceutical wastes as a resource but for some there is an obvious cash value to these wastes. The tonnages of pharma waste are staggering, […]
High visibility workwear is ubiquitous across the waste industries and indeed just about everywhere else, but how did it originate? The high-visibility vest arrived in Britain almost five decades ago. Last […]
Once more, a story has reached the news of plastics recovered from clinical wastes being recycled to teh manufacture of plastic plates, cups and other utensils. A previous story was […]
“Almost 200 staff suffered injuries from contaminated needles or sharp medical instruments at the region’s main hospitals in just 12 months. “Hull And East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust said 197 […]
Who provides advice and support to producers for aspects of clinical waste management? There are always many questions, and access to information can be troublesome. Who to ask? A waste […]
Resomation, the solubilisation of tissues in a heated potassium hydroxide solution, is the subject of a substantial PR campaign aimed at gaining public acceptance and regulatory approval for the disposal of […]
Tissue waste disposal is a sometimes difficult issue, since patients may have their own view on disposal, perhaps of an amputated limb, or of a placenta, than do healthcare professionals. Last […]
EEA Technical report No 8/2011 provides a comprehensive overview of hazardous substances in Europe’s fresh and marine waters. The document should provide a starting point, or refresher, for all those […]
Drug residues present and persisting in natural water is an effective marker for a potentially serious adverse environmental effect. A series of recent studies suggests that pharmaceutical factories are not […]
This issues surrounding the breaches at Peak Pet Cremations and the jailing four months of its owner Emma Bent have been described previously in the Clinical Waste Discussion Forum. Last […]
Northampton General Hospital claims savings of around £20,000 on clinical waste disposal through their initiatives to drive enhanced source segregation and exclude inapproriate items into clinical waste containers. “We’ve asked […]
An earlier Clinical Waste Discussion Forum newsletter had included a Word Search of Waste that proved to be very popular. So, after several requests and reminders we have created another one. […]
The current Health Minister Lord Howe has announced an intention to establish a new supervisory body in an attempt to minimize around £300m lost within the NHS each year due […]
Apparently, the funeral industry is the second biggest source of pollution after fossil fuel fired power stations, but an alternative to cremation could reduce the UK’s carbon footprint. Last updated: […]