We currently use sharps at work (needle & syringes) these are not used in a medical way, but are used to apply solvents/glues to plastics joints etc.

Is there any regulations which would cover our use of the said sharps which is not related to the healthcare sharps regulations.

I know of COSHH, MHSWR, HSWA.

I am also aware that any waste is classed as clinical due to the nature of sharps.

Thanks

Originally Posted by: Kate

Sharps are only clinical waste if they are contaminated with blood, etc.  It's the infection risk that makes something clinical, not the fact of it being sharp. If they are just sharps then they can be disposed of in a purpose-designed sharps container that controls the sharps risks; they don't need to be incinerated (some containers say 'clinical' and 'must be incinerated' on the side, and are intended for clinical use not this kind of use).

There are no special regulations for this, there are just good practices to do with storage, handling and disposal.

Thats interesting.

We have tried several companies to dispose of used equipment, which is stored in a sharps bin, all the companies we have approached have stated that it must be disposed of as clinical waste and won't remove them.

Regards

Kate is correct in saying that sharps are only clinical waste if they are contaminated, and that the rest is down to "good practice".  In theory therefore, you should be able to dispose of non-medical sharps by placing them in a sharps box (with an orange lid) which don't necessarily require incineration.

In reality however, it doesn't surprise me that you're struggling.  The problem is that the vast majority of needles are used for medical purposes, and most companies see it as being too much hassle to sort into medical and non-medical.  Given the perceived work involved in sorting them, the easy option is to incinerate them all (which ties in with what you're being told by the waste companies you've tried).