Updates: Healthcare waste: appropriate measures for permitted facilities

2021

8 December 2021 published amendments

Edited the types of healthcare waste by packaging colour document - added waste code 20 01 31* and changed lead foils from dental care to 15 01 04.

Waste pre-acceptance, acceptance and tracking appropriate measures

Updated appropriate measures 14 and 15 under 'Waste pre-acceptance' so they are more consistent with the previous requirements of technical guidance EPR 5.07 clinical waste. Updated appropriate measure 21 under 'Waste acceptance' - it is no longer the operator's responsibility to label or mark all waste packages.

Waste storage, segregation and handling appropriate measures

Added reference to pallet boxes in appropriate measure 3. Added reference to fugitive emissions to air in the 3rd bullet point of appropriate measure 11.

Waste treatment appropriate measures

Edited the section 'Plant commissioning and validating the efficacy of treatment' (measures 7 and 8) to clarify the requirements for repeated validation of alternative treatment plant. Edited the section 'Validation tests for treating infectious wastes' (measure 3) to confirm that you should use Geobacillus stearothermophilus for validation tests involving wet heat (steam) treatment. Edited the section 'Validation tests for treating infectious wastes' (measure 10) to provide additional information about the distribution of spores strips in the example challenge load for thermal treatment with pre-shredding or maceration.