Clinical waste & sharps: the colour-coded guide
Which bin, which bag, and how to handle sharps safely. Based on the colour coding set out in Health Technical Memorandum 07-01, the national guide to the safe management of healthcare waste.
Download the free clinical waste and sharps guide
A printable PDF for GP practices & care homes. Print as many copies as you need.
Everything on the guide
Colour coding at a glance
| Colour | Typically used for |
|---|---|
| Yellow | Infectious waste that needs incineration, for example waste contaminated with medicines |
| Orange | Infectious waste that can be treated, for example soiled dressings and items contaminated with blood or body fluids |
| Purple | Cytotoxic and cytostatic waste and contaminated items |
| Yellow and black striped ("tiger") | Offensive waste that is not infectious, for example incontinence pads from people without an infection |
| Blue | Medicines that are not cytotoxic or cytostatic, in their original packaging |
| Black or clear | Domestic (general) waste |
| Sharps bins: yellow lid | Sharps contaminated with medicines (other than cytotoxic) |
| Sharps bins: orange lid | Sharps not contaminated with medicines |
| Sharps bins: purple lid | Sharps contaminated with cytotoxic or cytostatic medicines |
Safe sharps handling
- Assemble sharps bins correctly and complete the label when you start using them
- Take the sharps bin to the point of use, so you never walk with a used sharp
- Never re-sheathe needles; dispose of the needle and syringe as one unit
- Never fill above the fill line. Close and lock the bin when it is three-quarters full
- Use the temporary closure between uses
- Store bins off the floor, out of reach of children and the public
- Lock full bins and keep them in a secure area until collection
If someone has a sharps injury
- Encourage it to bleed. Gently encourage bleeding; do not suck the wound.
- Wash it. Wash with soap and running water. Do not scrub.
- Cover it. Dry and cover with a waterproof dressing.
- Report it straight away. Tell your manager and seek urgent advice from occupational health or the nearest emergency department, in line with your policy.
- Record it. Complete an incident report.
Waste checklist
- Every room has the right bins for the waste produced there
- Bags are no more than three-quarters full and tied with a swan neck or tag
- Waste is stored securely until collection
- Waste transfer and consignment notes are kept as required
- Staff are trained in segregation
Common questions
Is the clinical waste and sharps guide free?
Yes. It’s one of more than 20 free resources in our GP resources library . Just enter your email to unlock the library and download the PDF.
Can I print it?
Yes. Each resource is a printable A4 PDF, and you can print as many copies as your team needs.
Who is it for?
It’s designed for GP practices & care homes, and is useful for practice managers, nurses and anyone responsible for infection control in your team.
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