We provide a free clinical waste service to residents for disposal of waste such as:
- Blood or bodily fluids
- Dialysis waste
- Stoma bags
- Medical swabs and dressings
- Syringes and needles
You should double-wrap other medical waste (incontinence pads, nappies etc.) and put in your normal rubbish bin.
If you're in a nursing home the nursing home should arrange the clinical collections through whoever normally collects their waste.
Please note that pharmacies in Gravesham do not accept clinical waste.
Clinical services available
Sharps box collection
Sharps boxes can be obtained via the doctors/hospitals when medication is supplied. When you have a full sharps box of needles and syringes, you can request collection from us.
We can collect, deliver or exchange sharp boxes when required. We are able to collect purple sharps boxes used for cancer treatments, but we do not provide them.
You can choose the day/week of your collection, delivery or exchange, with availability depending on your address.
The following sizes are currently available:
- Travel size – 500ml – collection only
- Small – 1 litre – collection only
- Medium – 5 litres
- Large – 11.5 litres
Clinical bags
We can set up a regular repeat scheduled collection and/or delivery of clinical waste bags.
We will ask you for details of your needs and will contact you within 7 working days to make arrangements.
Personal care related wastes such as sanitary towels, nappies and incontinence pads, are not considered to be hazardous and do not need to be placed in clinical bags. This is classed as offensive waste and should be disposed of in your black refuse bin/sack.
Arranging your service
Use our online form to arrange a collection, delivery or exchange for either sharps boxes or clinical bags.
Arrange a collection, delivery or exchange
What to do on collection day
Please make sure that sharps boxes are locked and clinical bags tied. They should be left on your doorstep by 7am on the morning of the collection, unless alternative arrangements have been agreed.
Change or cancel your service
If you have arranged a collection, delivery or exchange and need to amend or cancel, please contact clinical@gravesham.gov.uk.