Disposal of clinical waste

Linen
Any linen that is soiled with blood or body fluid or deemed infected should be placed in a water-soluble bag and then placed inside the appropriate laundry bag depending on local policy. Some hospitals use yellow laundry bags for infected linen and red for linen contaminated with blood or body fluids. Be sure to familiarize yourself with your local policy and procedure.

The notion of ‘double bagging’ laundry is to protect laundry staff who can then transfer soiled linen into the washing machines without having to handle the contaminated contents.

Waste bags:
• Yellow bags – used for the disposal of any waste arising from direct client care, for example soiled clinical dressings, swabs or containers.
• Black bags – used for the disposal of normal household waste such as paper towels.
• Brown paper bags or boxes – used for the disposal of glass and aerosols.
• White plastic or clear bags – used to return used reusable items to the sterile supplies department for re-sterilization.

Note: 
it is far more expensive to incinerate clinical waste than to dispose of household waste in a landfill site. It is the responsibility of all staff to dispose of waste appropriately, to maintain the health and safety of other workers and to consider the environmental and financial costs involved.