Methods of Clinical Waste Disposal - Which Bag is Best? (2024)

Special consideration is needed when dealing with clinical waste, which requires different treatment and disposal methods appropriate to the hazard it may present – offensive, infectious, contaminated with medicines, cytotoxic. Yellow or Orange bags may be used for collection, storage, transport, treatment and disposal, with printed information pertaining to the standard design weight (contents capacity) and, in the case of infectious waste, the UN packaging certification number.

Methods of Clinical Waste Disposal - Which Bag is Best? (1)

Yellow Bagsfor infectious waste, including medicine contaminated infectious waste.

This is waste that has been used in the treatments of infectious patients, those suspected of having an infection and are contaminated with medicines or chemicals. For example:

  • PPE (gloves, masks aprons)
  • Wipes, dressings, plasters and bandages
  • Incontinence waste
  • Empty saline or glucose IV bags, and tubing (no active medicines added)
  • IV Bags, lines and tubing that have had medicine added
  • Chemically contaminated waste.

This waste must be sent for incineration (with energy from waste).

Methods of Clinical Waste Disposal - Which Bag is Best? (2)

Orange Bags –for Infectious Clinical Waste.

This is waste arising from the treatment of infectious patients, or those suspected of having an infection, possibly contaminated with bodily fluids. NOT containing medicine contaminated waste. For example:

  • PPE (gloves, masks aprons)
  • Wipes, dressings, plasters and bandages
  • Incontinence waste
  • Empty saline or glucose IV bags, and tubing (no active medicines added

This waste may be sent for incineration (with energy from waste) or Alternative Treatment (AT) facilities.

Methods of Clinical Waste Disposal - Which Bag is Best? (3)


Yellow Bags with Black Stripe (Tiger Bags)
for offensive waste (inc. sanitary / nappy waste).

For waste arising from the treatment of non-infectious patients, possibly containing bodily fluids, for example:

  • PPE (gloves, masks aprons)
  • Wipes, dressings, plasters and bandages – non infectious
  • Incontinence waste – non infectious
  • Soiled sanitary towels and tampons – from public and work based female toilets
  • Nappies – from baby changing areas and nurseries.

This waste may be sent to landfill, or incineration, or AT.

Methods of Clinical Waste Disposal - Which Bag is Best? (4)


Black Bags –
General Domestic Waste

This is for waste that is similar to that produced in the home environment, none recyclable, for example:

  • Flowers
  • Food waste and associated packaging
  • Used medicine tots
  • Sweet wrappers

This waste may be disposed of by landfill or EFW

Methods of Clinical Waste Disposal - Which Bag is Best? (5)

Natural (Clear) Bags –Mixed Dry Recycling

For waste similar to that produced in the home environment, which is recyclable, for example:

  • Paper / cardboard
  • Paper towels
  • Newspapers/magazines
  • Clean plastic and tins.

This waste may be sent to MRF (Materials Recovery Facility)

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This waste may be sent to MRF (Materials Recovery Facility)

View our full range of Clinical Waste Sacks here. You can contact our friendly team to discuss your requirements, we can advice you on the best bag for your waste.

Methods of Clinical Waste Disposal - Which Bag is Best? (6)

Learn more about clinical waste.

Methods of Clinical Waste Disposal - Which Bag is Best? (2024)

FAQs

Methods of Clinical Waste Disposal - Which Bag is Best? ›

Use the orange waste bags for infectious waste that is not chemically and/or medically contaminated, such as bandages and dressings. Use the yellow waste bags only for infectious clinical waste that is also chemically and/or medically contaminated.

Which color bag should you use when disposing of clinical waste? ›

Use the orange waste bags for infectious waste that is not chemically and/or medically contaminated, such as bandages and dressings. Use the yellow waste bags only for infectious clinical waste that is also chemically and/or medically contaminated.

Which method is best for medical waste disposal? ›

Incineration, which means burning harmful wastes into ashes, is the best method to dispose of biological wastes from hospitals.

Which color bag is used for medical waste? ›

Red Hazardous Waste Bag

The red hazardous waste bag is appropriate for contaminated waste, human anatomy wastes, sem*n, saliva tissues, organs, animal corpses, body fluids, urine bags, syringes, used gloves, and blood-contaminated materials. The most hazardous medical wastes are often disposed of in red waste bags.

What clinical waste goes in a yellow bag? ›

Yellow Waste Bags

Infectious or potentially infectious clinical waste contaminated with chemicals or pharmaceutical / medicinal wastes e.g. medicated dressings, iodine dressings, swabs, wipes contrast media. Yellow-stream waste must be sent for incineration at a suitably authorised facility.

What is the difference between yellow and orange clinical waste bags? ›

The orange bags are intended for heavy duty clinical waste which requires a heat treatment prior to incineration and disposal, unlike yellow bag waste, which just needs to be incinerated.

What is the blue bag used in hospitals? ›

Blue plastic bag consist of contaminated glass. White Bag consist of sharp waste including metals. Disinfection or hydroclaving is a suitable method for blue bag disposal.

What is the safest method of waste disposal? ›

The best methods of safe disposal are segregation and composting. After segregating the waste and separating materials for reuse and recycling, the waste material should be disposed of. Care must be taken that waste disposal does not pollute the air, groundwater, surface water and land.

What are the two least preferred methods of waste disposal? ›

The Solid Waste department follows the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Waste Management Hierarchy by managing waste from the most preferred to least preferred options: reduction of waste generated; reuse of resources; recycling and sending materials back into the marketplace; creating electricity via ...

What is an OSHA guideline for disposal of medical waste material? ›

In general, regulated wastes, other than contaminated sharps, must be placed in containers which are: (i) Closable; (ii) Constructed to contain all contents and prevent leakage of fluids during handling, storage, transport or shipping; (iii) Labeled or color-coded in accordance with paragraphs (g)(1)(i); (iv) Closed ...

What are red clinical waste bags used for? ›

Anatomical waste goes in a red clinical waste bag. These are used to store waste body parts, organs, blood, and tissue samples – including both hazardous and non-hazardous waste. Red clinical waste bags are often used to store waste produced during surgical procedures before collection and disposal.

What are orange clinical waste bags used for? ›

Orange Bags – for Infectious Clinical Waste. This is waste arising from the treatment of infectious patients, or those suspected of having an infection, possibly contaminated with bodily fluids.

What color bags and containers are used for infectious medical waste? ›

Consistent colors

If there are small bins in examination rooms for infectious waste and those bins are red, then the larger containers for infectious waste should also be red, and the drums or boxes in the storage area for infectious waste should also be red.

What is a yellow and black bag used for? ›

Yellow and black striped waste bags are also called tiger stripe bags. These are used for non-hazardous waste that is not infectious and doesn't contain harmful chemicals but is likely to be offensive to the senses. Examples: Colostomy bags, nappies, and sanitary waste.

What goes in a red bag? ›

Red Bag waste is the same as biohazardous waste. It is liquid or solid items that have been contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIMs).

What goes in a yellow and black bag? ›

Also known as Tiger-Bags due to their distinctive stripes, Yellow and Black Clinical Waste bags are perfect for storing clinical waste that is not classified as infectious but must still be handled with some degree of care and precaution. Waste Type: Clinical.

What are the color codes for waste disposal? ›

Discover the different color codes used for segregation of waste, including red for biohazard, yellow for radioactive, blue and white for non-hazardous, and black for hazardous waste. Improve safety for your staff and protect the environment with proper segregation and disposal of medical waste.

What color is a biohazard bag? ›

No matter the state, every bag has to be rigid enough to hold waste without tearing, it must be leak proof, and in more states than not, must be red. Because of this, most bio-bag manufacturers only make red biohazard bags.

What do different coloured waste bags mean? ›

Green – is for biodegradable materials like left-over foods, vegetable and fruit peelings, leaves, twigs, etc. 3. Red – is commonly used in hospitals for bio-hazardous wastes such as syringe with blood, test tubes, human wastes, etc. 4. Blue – is usually used for industrial materials such as glass, heavy plastics, etc.

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