Guidance
[Withdrawn] Waste codes for test sites with lateral flow antigen testing devices, PCR testing and vaccination sites
Updated 12 March 2021
Applies to England and Wales
© Crown copyright 2021
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-lateral-flow-tests-waste-codes/waste-codes-for-mass-testing-with-lateral-flow-antigen-testing-devices
Please note: this guidance will need to be reviewed by the relevant agencies in devolved administrations for local application.
This guidance is not relevant for schools, employer testing, residential or domiciliary environments. It is intended for registered healthcare facilities and dedicated testing sites.
Codes for PCR test sites and LFDs for on-site workforce testing
|
Item |
Sample |
Waste categorisation |
European Waste Code (EWC) |
Legal waste management routes using the waste hierarchy |
Health technical memoranda (HTM) 07-01 packaging |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
General waste |
Sandwich wrapper |
Domestic/ recycling |
20 03 01 |
1st option: materials recovery facility 2nd option: energy from waste 3rd option: landfill |
Not applicable |
|
All packaging |
Outer packaging on equipment |
Domestic/ recycling |
15 01 01 15 01 02 15 01 05 15 01 06 |
1st option: materials recovery facility 2nd option: energy from waste 3rd option: landfill |
Use existing municipal route |
|
Swab (such as dropped swab, replaced into tube) |
Absorbent pads Vials Tissues |
Offensive |
18 01 04 |
1st option: municipal incineration 2nd option: landfill (last resort) |
Tiger bag |
|
Personal protective equipment |
Apron Face mask Gloves |
Offensive |
18 01 04 |
1st option: municipal incineration 2nd option: landfill (last resort) |
Tiger bag |
|
For workforce testing using LFDs Cartridges or devices (such as Innova, Abbott, SureScreen, Orient Gene) |
LFD cartridge Swab Vial Tissue |
Chemical |
18 01 07 plus 18 01 04 |
1st option: energy from waste 2nd option: municipal incineration 3rd option: clinical waste incinerator 4th option: landfill (last resort) |
1st option: unmarked yellow neutral container or bag 2nd option: white or clear container or bag 3rd option: tiger bag Do not use hazardous waste packaging |
Codes for sites carrying out LFDs
| Item | Sample | Waste categorisation | European Waste Code (EWC) | Legal waste management routes using the waste hierarchy | Health technical memoranda (HTM) 07.01 packaging |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General waste | Sandwich wrapper | Domestic/ recycling | 20 03 01 | 1st option: materials recovery facility 2nd option: energy from waste 3rd option: landfill |
Not applicable |
| All packaging | Outer packaging on equipment | Domestic/ recycling | 15 01 01 15 01 02 15 01 05 15 01 06 |
1st option: materials recovery facility 2nd option: energy from waste 3rd option: landfill |
Use existing municipal route |
| Swabs | Absorbent pads Vials Tissues |
Chemical | 18 01 07 plus 18 01 04 |
1st option: energy from waste 2nd option: municipal incineration 3rd option: clinical waste incinerator 4th option: landfill (last resort) |
1st option: unmarked yellow neutral container or bag 2nd option: white or clear container or bag 3rd option: tiger bag Do not use hazardous waste packaging |
| Cartridges or devices (such as Innova, Abbott, SureScreen, Orient Gene) | LFD cartridge | Chemical | 18 01 07 plus 18 01 04 |
1st option: energy from waste 2nd option: municipal incineration 3rd option: clinical waste incinerator 4th option: landfill (last resort) |
1st option: unmarked yellow neutral container or bag 2nd option: white or clear container or bag 3rd option: tiger bag Do not use hazardous waste packaging |
| Personal protective equipment | Apron Face mask Gloves |
Offensive | 18 01 04 | 1st option: energy from waste 2nd option: municipal incineration 3rd option: landfill (last resort) |
1st option: tiger bag |
Codes for vaccination sites
|
Item |
Sample |
Waste categorisation |
European Waste Code (EWC) |
Legal waste management routes using the waste hierarchy |
Health technical memoranda (HTM) 07-01 packaging |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
General waste |
Sandwich wrapper |
Domestic/ recycling |
20 03 01 |
1st option: materials recovery facility 2nd option: energy from waste 3rd option: landfill |
Not applicable |
|
All external packaging |
Outer packaging on equipment |
Domestic/ recycling |
15 01 01 15 01 02 15 01 05 15 01 06 |
1st option: materials recovery facility 2nd option: energy from waste 3rd option: landfill |
Use existing municipal route |
| Any vaccine carton waste | Vaccine boxes that are printed or otherwise branded | Confidential waste | 15 01 01 | Shredding or secure destruction | Locked consoles, locked bins, security-sealed sacks |
| Personal protective equipment | Apron Face mask Gloves |
Offensive | 18 01 04 | 1st option: energy from waste 2nd option: municipal incineration 3rd option: landfill (last resort) |
Tiger bag |
| Sharps: non-medical premises | Needle or syringe Vials |
Clinical | 18 01 01 or 18 01 09 |
Clinical waste incineration or other permitted process | Yellow sharps container with a yellow lid |
| Sharps: medical premises | Needle or syringe Vials |
Clinical | 18 01 03 or 18 01 09 |
Clinical waste incineration or other permitted process | Yellow sharps container with a yellow lid |