What type of waste can VEM collect?

Most forms of veterinary generated waste streams such as, sharps, bandages, swabs, empty vaccine bottles, syringes, out of date medicines and pharmaceuticals, X-Ray developed / fixer etc.

How do I store my waste?

Sharps must be stored is a puncture resistant rigid sharps box. Soft items such as bandages can be stored in yellow plastic clinical waste bags, out of date medicines etc must be stored in rigid medicine containers.

Can I use any plastic container?

When your clinical waste is collected it must be transported under the ADR regulations. These regulations require that waste streams must be transported in UN 3291 approved containers. These containers must be sealed while in transit.

Where can I get sharps boxes & clinical waste containers?

VSSCo stock and distribute a wide range of UN 3291 containers.

Can I reuse these containers?

No. The ADR regulations define the type of container which must be used for the transport of sharps and/or clinical waste. The containers are to be sealed in your premises, removed, transported to the treatment facility and are destroyed in the treatment process.

Why are the containers in different colours?

Under legislation you have a legal obligation to segregate, store, label and record the waste streams generated by your activities. In addition we do not currently have the infrastructure to treat all the waste types generated. For example out of date medicines must be incinerated and are exported. The black lidded container identities that the contents of the container requires incineration and that the practice has segregated these out of date medicines from its other wastes.

What colour identifies which wastes?

• Sharps Container: All Yellow or Yellow with a white lid
• Soft bandages/ swabs: Yellow Clinical waste plastic bags.
• Medicines: Yellow with a black lid
• Pharmaceuticals: Yellow with a black lid.
• Cytotoxic: Yellow with a purple lid.

How do I record the quantities as required by law?

While complex having these waste streams collected doesn't have to be difficult. When VEM collect our collection docket (duty of care transfer note) records the volumes of waste collected, by the appropriate European Waste Catalogue (EWC) number and can form part of your waste management system records.

Is there any other legislation I need to comply with?

Yes. Under the 1998 Special Waste Regulations a consignment note, must be completed every time you transfer sharps or clinical waste to another. These forms have different sections to identify, who generated the waste i.e. the practice, what the waste consists of i.e. sharps, clinical, spent X-Ray fluids etc. how much waste was generated, who took the waste i.e. the waste carrier, and finally where the waste was finally treated.

Anything else?

It is a legal responsibility, duty of care, to ensure that any person you transfer waste to is permitted to take that waste. In addition the said authorised person brings the waste to a facility which is licensed to accept that specific waste type.