Safety Alert – Non-compliant sharps disposal methods

11 March 2025

The safety of our staff and waste management personnel is paramount. Recent findings have uncovered a concerning trend: the use of non-compliant sharps disposal methods, including paper pouches and unapproved containers.

Used syringe in yellow plastic container

Photo by www.pexels.com

What is the issue?

Recent safety checks have identified the unsafe use of paper pouches and non-UN-approved containers for sharps disposal. This practice presents a serious risk to our staff, particularly waste management personnel. Departments are using containers that fail to meet UN safety standards, and sharps are being placed in paper pouches. Consequently, our waste disposal contractor, Grundon, cannot collect these items, leading to significant health and safety concerns.

Photograph of a partially filled clinical waste bin. Inside the bin, a paper pouch is visible. This is an example of incorrect sharps disposal using a non-compliant containers.

Image: unsafe sharps disposal, a paper pouch with sharps inside a waste bin, highlighting the risk of puncture and contamination.

All sharps must be disposed of in UN-approved sharps containers

The use of paper pouches and non-compliant containers is strictly prohibited. All sharps must be presented for disposal in UN approved sharps containers. To address this issue, we have removed non-compliant sharps containers from the eMarketPlace.

Action to be taken

Immediately check that you are not using any non-UN-approved sharps containers.
Reinforce proper disposal procedures with staff.
Ensure that paper pouches and other non-approved containers are not used.

Where can I get further information?

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