Disposal of Sharps and other Clinical Waste

Patients with diabetes should be advised to dispose of their clinical and sharps waste safely using a Sharpsbin which the GP can prescribe on an FP10.

Pharmacists used to collect the filled bins but patients are now wrongly being informed that they should be taking the filled sharps bins to their GP practice for disposal instead.

We can advise that GPs have no obligations in this regard.

In April 2004 the National Diabetes Support Team issued a Fact sheet on Disposing of Used Syringes and Other Sharp Clinical Waste . This fact sheet is no longer available but an up to date statement from Diabetes UK on sharps disposal is available here

This includes the following advice:

"As a general rule waste produced by the householder, including clinical and sharps waste, is the waste of that householder and is therefore collected, on request, by the local authority."

It then quotes the Drug Tariff which states that

"Those prescribed the Sharpsbin should be advised that, because of the risk of needle-stick injuries, it should not be disposed of via the normal household refuse collection. Patients should correctly dispose of their Sharpsbin by returning it to their GP for appropriate disposal. Alternatively, local authorities will make separate collections of clinical waste on request and patients should contact their local authority."

There is a duty on local authorities, under Section 45(3) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Controlled Waste Regulations 1992, to collect and dispose of household waste, including clinical/sharps waste from households.

Patients must request this service and ask for their clinical/sharps waste to be collected. Local authorities are entitled to make a reasonable charge, although some provide a free service.