Where does this waste go?

In an aesthetic procedure environment, there is typically a number of different types of waste being generated on a daily basis. Each of these waste streams will need to be disposed of differently, and some pose certain risks that need to be understood by staff. As such, it is important to refresh your knowledge of effective waste disposal to keep yourself, employees and patients safe, while also minimising a clinic's impact on the environment.

The Department of Health and Social Care has a specific colour code for best practice waste management that aims to make the different types of waste and their disposal methods clear. It is likely that most clinics already follow this system, but if not, it is a good opportunity to simplify waste management processes, especially as the colours that represent each waste stream are distinct and easy to remember (Department of Health and Social Care, 2013).

One of the main waste streams practitioners are bound to encounter in an aesthetic setting is clinical infectious waste. Represented by orange in the colour code, this waste stream includes any item that has come into contact with potentially infectious substances such as blood, but that may be treated to render them safe prior to disposal.