Hazardous and Clinical Waste
Hazardous waste is waste that contains materials that may harm humans or the environment.
Clinical waste is healthcare waste including dressings, bodily fluids (eg dialysis waste) and sharps (mainly needles). Clinical waste carries a risk of infection and injury.
Hazardous Waste
Many familiar household products contain substances that become hazardous unless disposed of properly.
They MUST NOT be put out with your normal refuse. Some of these products can be taken to the Household Waste and Recycling Centres, while others should be collected by specialist services. Here are some examples:
| NOT for regular collections but OK for Household Waste and Recycling Centres | NOT for regular collections NOR for Household Waste and Recycling Centres |
|---|---|
|
|
If you are unsure about the safety of a product, or want to know how to dispose of something, please call the WasteAware helpline on 0300 1234 051.
Some large items, including fridges and freezers, can be collected by the Council’s Special Refuse Collection Service. There is charge for this, and can be reduced if you are in receipt of certain benefits. For more details, click here. To arrange a collection, call 01727 809019.
Clinical Waste - Free collection from domestic properties
Clinical Waste
The Council’s contractor, Veolia, will arrange for separate collection of clinical waste. Call 01727 809019 for advice and to arrange a collection.
Sharps
Sharps (eg needles): never put sharps into your normal refuse – they may seriously injure those collecting or disposing of the waste. The Council provides a sharps collection service from domestic properties provided they are in the proper yellow lidded sharps bin. These are provided by your GP or hospital clinic providing the needles; they also provide replacement or extra bins. To arrange a collection, call Veolia on 01727 809019 or email wastemanagementservices@stalbans.gov.uk
If you are using a needle exchange scheme, please continue this with your participating pharmacy.
Further information on sharps collections can be found on the NHS Website.
Unused and out of date medicines should be returned to your pharmacy for disposal. Please don’t put inhalers in your household waste. Take them to any pharmacy for recycling.
Asbestos
Never take asbestos to Household Waste and Recycling Centres. It should be removed only by licensed professionals and disposed of at licensed sites. Hertfordshire County Council will provide further advice – please call the WasteAware helpline on 0300 1234 051.
Contact list
Below is a summary of the contact details listed on this page and the name of the service and the service that they provide:
| Service name | Service | Contact Details |
|---|---|---|
| WasteAware helpline | Information of how to dispose of something if you are not sure how, or where to | 0300 1234 051 |
| Special Refuse Collection | Collection for some large items, such as fridges. There is fee however, if you are in receipt of certain benefits there is a concession price. | 01727 809019 |
| Clinical Waste Collection (operated by Veolia) | To arrange a collection, or get advice about clinical waste from our contractor Veolia | 01727 809019 |
| Sharps (operated by Veolia) | To arrange a collection of sharps from our contractor Veolia | 01727 809019 |
| Asbestos (operated by WasteAware and Herts County Council) | Information from Herts County Council about asbestos removal | 0300 1234 051 |