MK City Council provides a free of charge collection of clinical waste from domestic properties, on behalf of the local community health trust.

What is clinical waste?

Clinical waste is the term used to describe waste produced from healthcare and similar activities that may pose a risk of infection, for example, swabs, bandages, dressings etc. or may prove hazardous, for example medicines. 

How to arrange a regular clinical waste collection

Clinical waste collections can be arranged once we have received a completed application form. The form contains guidance on the materials that can go in the black bin and those that need a separate clinical waste collection; your GP or district nurse can offer advice as well.

Collections take place on a Tuesday and can be either one-off collections or recurring weekly collections.

We are currently revising our process and collection days due to the service being oversubscribed.  Our crews are currently collecting any outstanding clinical waste on a Wednesdays.

Clinical waste should be left in an accessible location from 7am on the morning o collection.  We are unable to enter buildings, so if you live in a communal property you will need to talk to your management agent about them providing a secure clinical waste cupboard/safe in the bin store area, which we can collect from.

Please note: this service only covers medical waste produced from patients treating themselves at home. If the clinical waste is produced during the visit of a medical professional, they should remove and dispose the waste when they are finished.

Clinical waste application form

Clinical waste types

Yellow clinical waste sacks

Clinical waste can include:

• waste and hygiene products from infectious cases
• waste from infections
• soiled surgical dressings and swabs
• any other waste that is potentially infectious

We provide yellow clinical waste sacks and replace them as they are collected.

Yellow sharps pots/bins

Sharps are items that could cause cuts or puncture wounds, including needles, syringes with needles attached, scalpel and other blades.

A sharps box should be provided with the needles when they are dispensed to you.  We do not provide replacement bins.

Purple sharps pots/bins

Purple lidded bins are used for chemotherapy sharps and medicines.  These are not collected by Milton Keynes City Council but should be returned to your healthcare professional.

Hygiene (offensive) waste

Hygiene waste is non-clinical waste which can include dialysis tubing, stoma bags, sanitary towels, nappies and incontinence pads and other waste that is not non-infectious.

This waste is generally not considered hazardous and can be placed in your black general refuse bin.

Packaging waste

Packaging waste such as cardboard boxes can be placed in the appropriate recycling bin.

Commercial Clinical Waste

Milton Keynes City Council does not collect commercial clinical waste. You will need to contact a specialist provider.