Medical waste collections

Apply for a medical waste or needle collection. Applications must be made by 12 noon on the Monday before the collection day.

Collections are made on a Wednesday. Bags and boxes must be presented by 7am at the front of theproperty. Please note that:

  • Bags, and yellow boxes for sharps will be accepted
  • Purple boxes for sharps will also be accepted

Medical waste is any waste that poses a threat of infection to humans, including:

  • Human tissue
  • Blood and other bodily fluids
  • Swabs and dressings
  • Syringes, needles or other sharp instruments

Medical waste must not be placed in your normal domestic refuse container.

Residents using needles (such as diabetics) will use a 'sharps container' for disposal. All needles must be contained within a medical sharps collection box – they will not be accepted by our contractor if they are contained within any other form of storage such as a plastic bag or cardboard box.

Pharmacies and doctors surgeries give out yellow boxes for the collection of needles and syringes (the council does not supply these). They also have a duty to take these boxes back; the council also offers this service.