Clinical Waste Collections

We offer a clinical waste collection service. This is the collection of medical dressings, needles and other medical items. Hazardous or infectious items are incinerated at a special site, and other items are sent for 'deep landfill' separate from your normal household waste.

The waste is placed in 3 different types of containers:

Sharps boxes - For discarded syringe needle cartridges, broken glass (from medical supplies only) and other contaminated disposable sharp instruments or items. These are available in 0.25 litres as standard. If you use a large number of sharps or have large sized syringes you may request a larger 5 litre container.

Orange sacks - For the disposal of hazardous or infectious waste including: human tissue, blood, swabs and dressings, pharmaceutical products and chemical waste.

Tiger Sacks - For items used in the disposal of urine, faeces and other bodily secretion or excretions including: bed pans, incontinence pads, stoma bags and urine containers and their packaging (e.g. cardboard).

The initial supply of containers is normally provided by your medical centre or hospital, or can be delivered by Oxford City Council on request.

Each time we collect your clinical waste container we will replace it with another one of the same type.

If the type or amount of waste we collect from you changes and you need a different type of container or bag please inform us and we will deliver the additional containers on your collection day.

Collections take place weekly and items for collection must be placed out or made accessible for collection from 6am onwards. Collection days will be confirmed at the time of your application.

To arrange a clinical waste collection, contact us on 01865 249811 or  mail recycling@oxford.gov.uk.

Safe disposal of needles and syringes

If you need to dispose of needles:

• Contact your doctor's surgery or local health centre for advice.
• Use one of the cubicle sharps bins in public toilet facilities at Gloucester Green, Market Street, Castle Street and The Westgate Centre.

Page last reviewed 10 May 2012