What type of waste can VEM collect?

Most forms of biohazardous waste streams such as, sharps, bandages, swabs, empty vaccine bottles, syringes, out of date medicines & pharmaceuticals, X-Ray developed / fixer etc. In addition, waste laboratory chemicals, waste electronics, etc.

How do I store my waste?

Sharps must be stored is a puncture resistant rigid sharps box. Soft items such as bandages can be stored in yellow plastic clinical waste bags, out of date medicines etc must be stored in rigid medicine containers.

Can I use any plastic container?

When your clinical waste is collected it must be transported under the ADR regulations. These regulations require that waste streams must be transported in UN 3291 approved containers. These containers must be sealed while in transit.

Can I reuse sharp containers?

No. The ADR regulations define the type of container which must be used for the transport of sharps and/or clinical waste. The containers are to be sealed in your premises, removed, transported to the treatment facility and are destroyed in the treatment process.

Why are the containers in different colours?

Under the Waste Management (Hazardous Wastes) Regulations 1998 you have a legal obligation to segregate, store, label and record the waste streams generated by your activities. In addition Ireland does not currently have the infrastructure to treat all the waste types generated. For example out of date medicines must be incinerated and are exported. The purple lidded container identifies that the contents of the container requires incineration and that the practice has segregated these medicines from its other wastes.

What typical colour identifies which wastes?

• Sharps Container: All yellow or yellow with a white lid
• Soft bandages/ swabs: Yellow Clinical waste plastic bags.
• Medicines: Yellow with a purple lid
• Pharmaceuticals: Yellow with a purple lid.
• Cytotoxic: Yellow with a purple lid (must be clearly marked as containing Cytotoxic)

How do I record the quantities as required by law?

While complex, having these waste streams collected doesn't have to be difficult. When VEM collect, we complete a collection docket which records the volumes of waste collected, by the appropriate European Waste Catalogue (EWC) number and can form part of your waste management system records.

Is there any other legislation I need to comply with?

Yes. Under the Waste Management (Movement of Hazardous Waste) Regulations 1998 a consignment note, commonly known as a C1 form, must be completed every time you transfer sharps or clinical waste to another. These forms have three sections:

When completed these forms show where the waste was generated, who took it away and where it was treated.

Where do I get a C1?

From the Environmental Section of your Local Authority and we have a stock of forms in VEM for each local authority area which we can supply at cost.

Anything else?

It is a legal responsibility to ensure that any person you transfer waste to is permitted to take that waste. Additionally that the carrier brings the waste to a facility which is licensed to accept that specific waste type.