Collection and Transportation of Clinical Waste for Major Producers

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Collection Service

Collection of clinical waste to a licensed disposal facility must be conducted by licensed collectors in accordance with the requirements specified in waste collection licences and in full compliance with the Regulation.

Transit skips as specified in the Code of Practice should be used to collect clinical waste from waste producers. Licensed collectors should check and ensure proper packaging, sealing and labelling of the waste containers with reference to the relevant requirements set out in this Code before placing them into transit skips. Group 3 clinical waste (Human and Animal Tissues) should be put into dedicated transit skips without mixing with other groups of clinical waste. If the clinical waste has already been placed into transit skips during storage by waste producers as in the case of some hospitals, licensed collectors should ensure the transit skips are securely closed and fastened and properly labelled before collecting the skips.

Under normal circumstances, no clinical waste should be transferred from one transit skip to another during waste collection. Where the premises of certain waste producers are not accessible to the transit skips, it would be acceptable to use smaller skips to collect clinical waste from these waste producers and transfer the waste to the transit skips. Such transfer operation is governed by the terms and conditions of the waste collection licence.

Frequency of Collection

The frequency of collection should be agreed between waste producer and licensed collector with due account of the nature and quantity of clinical waste generated. In order to minimize potential health hazards, prolonged storage of clinical waste should be avoided. Guidelines on the collection frequency for different groups of clinical waste are set out in Table 2.

Table 2: Collection Frequencies for Different Groups of Clinical Waste.

Groups of Waste Collection Frequency
Group 1 - Used and contaminated sharps Once every 2 weeks*
Group 2 - Laboratory waste
Group 5 – Dressings 		Daily*
Group 3 - Human and animal tissues Daily
(At least once every 10 days if stored below 5°C; monthly if stored below 0oC)
Group 4 - Infectious materials Daily
Group 6 - Other wastes Collected together with other groups of clinical waste or as soon as practicable
* At places where waste is generated in very small quantity, a lower collection frequency may be acceptable.

Where clinical waste is generated in very small quantities, a longer time interval between the collection trips of the waste is acceptable, up to a maximum of 1 month for Group 1 waste and a maximum of 1 week for Group 2 and 5 wastes.

Transportation of Clinical Waste

  • Transit Skips

    The transit skips used for the collection of clinical waste has been standardized and provided by CWTC. Each skip is marked "CLINICAL WASTE" in English and "醫療廢物" in Chinese, and, for clinical waste requiring refrigeration, “CLINICAL WASTE FOR REFRIGERATION” in English and “冷藏醫療廢物” in Chinese, as well as the international bio-hazard sign in BLACK. Transit skips for Group 3 clinical waste are YELLOW in colour. Each skip bears a unique serial number for easy identification and recording purpose and is displayed in BLACK.

    The transit skips are designed to be :

    • dedicated for the purpose of storing packaged clinical waste only;
    • provided with lid and capable of being fastened;
    • proof against spildage of the contents and infiltration of rainwater through the lid or cover;
    • proof against harbourage for insects and vermin, and accumulation of clinical waste on edges or in crevices, etc.;
    • Multiple-trip type and reusable; and
    • Capable of being readily disinfected or decontaminated by steam.

    The transit skips should be maintained in good condition and in a clean and sanitary state. The covers of transit skips should be closed and fastened at all times except during loading or unloading of clinical waste.

Delivery of Clinical Waste by Healthcare Professionals

Waste producers who are healthcare professionals# may deliver their clinical waste to a collection point or licensed disposal facility. Alternatively, they may ask their employee who is healthcare professional to deliver the waste on their behalf. Under this circumstance, you must obtain the Premises Code and complete the Trip Ticket before the waste delivery. Such waste delivery is subject to fulfilling the following requirements specified in the Regulation :

  • The healthcare professional must not carry more than 5 kg of clinical waste at any one time;
  • No Group 4 waste may be delivered in this manner;
  • Group 1 waste must be packaged in containers that are puncture- resistant, shatter-proof and leak-proof (e.g. sharps boxes);
  • Other groups of clinical waste must be packaged in containers that are made of rigid material, impervious to moisture and leak-proof, and that will not rip, tear or burst under normal conditions of handling;
  • The clinical waste must be properly packaged to prevent spillage, and the containers must be labelled in accordance with the specifications set out in the Annex C of Code of Practice;
  • Only private car## within the meaning of the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374) must be used as a means of transport in delivering the clinical waste;
  • The clinical waste must be delivered directly to a collection point or licensed disposal facility within 24 hours and must not be left unattended during the delivery; and
  • Adequate and appropriate first-aid equipment and cleaning equipment (e.g. spare red bags and sharps boxes) for use in case of injury to any person and spillage of clinical waste. Refer to the Annex D of Code of Practice.

__________________________

# A healthcare professional is a :

as defined in the various ordinances detailed in the Waste Disposal (Clinical Waste) (General) Regulation.

## Private car means a motor vehicle constructed or adapted for use solely for the carriage of a driver and not more than 7 passengers and their personal effects but does not include an invalid carriage, motor cycle, motor tricycle or taxi.

Collection and Transportation of Clinical Waste for Major Producers

Look for licensed clinical waste collectors

Click here for details

Collection Service

Collection of clinical waste to a licensed disposal facility must be conducted by licensed collectors in accordance with the requirements specified in waste collection licences and in full compliance with the Regulation.

Transit skips as specified in the Code of Practice should be used to collect clinical waste from waste producers. Licensed collectors should check and ensure proper packaging, sealing and labelling of the waste containers with reference to the relevant requirements set out in this Code before placing them into transit skips. Group 3 clinical waste (Human and Animal Tissues) should be put into dedicated transit skips without mixing with other groups of clinical waste. If the clinical waste has already been placed into transit skips during storage by waste producers as in the case of some hospitals, licensed collectors should ensure the transit skips are securely closed and fastened and properly labelled before collecting the skips.

Under normal circumstances, no clinical waste should be transferred from one transit skip to another during waste collection. Where the premises of certain waste producers are not accessible to the transit skips, it would be acceptable to use smaller skips to collect clinical waste from these waste producers and transfer the waste to the transit skips. Such transfer operation is governed by the terms and conditions of the waste collection licence.

Frequency of Collection

The frequency of collection should be agreed between waste producer and licensed collector with due account of the nature and quantity of clinical waste generated. In order to minimize potential health hazards, prolonged storage of clinical waste should be avoided. Guidelines on the collection frequency for different groups of clinical waste are set out in Table 2.

Table 2: Collection Frequencies for Different Groups of Clinical Waste.

Groups of Waste Collection Frequency
Group 1 - Used and contaminated sharps Once every 2 weeks*
Group 2 - Laboratory waste
Group 5 – Dressings 		Daily*
Group 3 - Human and animal tissues Daily
(At least once every 10 days if stored below 5°C; monthly if stored below 0oC)
Group 4 - Infectious materials Daily
Group 6 - Other wastes Collected together with other groups of clinical waste or as soon as practicable
* At places where waste is generated in very small quantity, a lower collection frequency may be acceptable.

Where clinical waste is generated in very small quantities, a longer time interval between the collection trips of the waste is acceptable, up to a maximum of 1 month for Group 1 waste and a maximum of 1 week for Group 2 and 5 wastes.

Transportation of Clinical Waste

Delivery of Clinical Waste by Healthcare Professionals

Waste producers who are healthcare professionals# may deliver their clinical waste to a collection point or licensed disposal facility. Alternatively, they may ask their employee who is healthcare professional to deliver the waste on their behalf. Under this circumstance, you must obtain the Premises Code and complete the Trip Ticket before the waste delivery. Such waste delivery is subject to fulfilling the following requirements specified in the Regulation :

__________________________

# A healthcare professional is a :

as defined in the various ordinances detailed in the Waste Disposal (Clinical Waste) (General) Regulation.

## Private car means a motor vehicle constructed or adapted for use solely for the carriage of a driver and not more than 7 passengers and their personal effects but does not include an invalid carriage, motor cycle, motor tricycle or taxi.