Dear All, to help reduce waste I would like to extend our present 12 week disposal of sharp receptacles when less than 3/4's full. To help support this it would be good to know what others are doing to help support this reduction in waste and costs. I would like to implement disposal only when 3/4 full opposed to a timeframe of use. I have struggled when completing a comprehensive research of any guidance in relation to date of disposal. Please could you share with me what your present process is.
Sharps Disposal
Comments (6)
Hi Terry, in my unit (Portugal) we only dispose when 3/4 full. We dont regulate by any timeframe.
Hi Terri, NICE guidance was updated “July 2023: In recommendation 1.1.4.4, we removed the timeframe for disposing of sharps containers”
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg139/chapter/Update-information
There is also no timeframe stated in the National Infection Prevention and Control Manual it only references the 3/4 fill line. I hope this info helps.
Thank you Helen for your reply, I appear to have missed the updated NICE guidelines, thank you for sharing them. I've seen the NICE social care guidelines but couldn't find the same info in any other guidance, good to see it is also in the above guidance. I searched the NIPCM but also missed the 3/4 fill line so will go back and look again as frustrated that I have missed it, but pleased it has been added as this will allow me to change our practise which will all help in reducing waste, costs and harm to our environment, thank you for sharing this information.
We've amended our policy following the change to NICE guidance, so our bins are now used until they reach the fill line. There's now no reference to a timeframe in any relevant guidance (i.e. HTM 07-01, NIPCM).
Thank you Graham for your reply, i appear to have missed the updated NICE guidelines. I've seen the NICE social care guidelines but couldn't find the same info in any other guidance, as agree no reference in other documents. Your reply will help me to make the change, thank you.
Please log in or sign up to comment.
Thank you Fernanda for replying, pleased to hear that is the practise in Portugal, I will change our practise in line with others, thank you for your reply.