Posted By Peter J Harvey In the UK legislation on the Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road is there a derogation that comes into force in December this year with regard to the carrying and packaging of clinical waste? I have been informed that yellow plastic bags will have to be replaced with rigid packaging ?

Posted By Tony Overbury Peter There is currently a derrogation that applies in the UK to the packaging of clinical waste for transport. This derrogation currently allows waste classified as UN 3291 Clinical Waste, Unspecified, N.O.S. to be transported in UN-approved plastic sacks. Unfortunately the derrogation expires on 31 December 2001. The waste will then require packaging in UN-approved rigid-sided containers. This is a simplified summary of the situation. Further details can be obtained from a variety of sources which may include: . Your transport/disposal contractor. . Your Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser. . The HSE. The intention (as I understand it) is that clinical waste is safely packaged for transport by road (and by rail/waterways but I have no experience with these modes of transport). One system that we are considering implementing is to have waste bagged up in yellow bags and to put these bags into UN-approved wheely bins for transport. For smaller scale use the waste can be put into UN-apporved medibins (either 30 or 60 litre one-shot bins). The Health Services Advisory Committee publish a book, Safe Disposal of Clinical Waste, that is essential reading for anybody involved with the control of clinical waste. ISBN no 0-7176-2492-7. This is the sort version (believe it or not) - if you would like to discuss the matter further please do not hesitate to email me. Tony Overbury