Hazardous Waste
The handling, treatment and disposal of Hazardous materials is governed by complex pieces of legislation and regulations, all of which are too extensive to replicate here.
Some examples of hazardous and non-hazardous waste that residents and the Council might reasonably expect to come into contact with are listed below.
Hazardous Non-Hazardous
Asbestos Timber
Clinical Waste Offensive and Hygiene Waste
Batteries Packaging Waste
Needles and Syringes Domestic Waste
Oils, Paints and Solvents Food Waste
Electronic Wastes Garden Waste
Hazardous Waste Services provided by Huntingdonshire District Council
Because of the nature of hazardous waste Huntingdonshire District Council only provides limited services for this type of material and these are listed below.
Asbestos
Huntingdonshire District Council does not provide an Asbestos removal or disposal service. Please see the link on the right to view the Environmental Health Asbestos page.
Clinical Waste and Offensive Waste
What is Clinical waste?
Clinical waste is normally associated with waste produced by healthcare or similar services e.g. veterinary waste. Two types of healthcare waste exist; Hazardous and Non-Hazardous.
Clinical waste is hazardous due to its medical, chemical and infectious profile.
Only a healthcare professional can assess these properties.
Non-healthcare waste is generally considered not to be infectious unless a healthcare professional advises otherwise.
The "profile" of the hazardous clinical and non-healthcare waste determines its disposal method.
What is Offensive Waste?
Offensive waste is waste that can be unpleasant to deal with and in sufficient quantities may lead to an offensive or residual health risk.
Offensive waste is not hazardous if it is not infectious and does not require specialist treatment or disposal. Some non-hazardous Hygiene Wastes also can be unpleasant to deal with in large quantities.
Examples of hazardous Clinical and Offensive Wastes that residents and the Council might expect to come into contact with are listed below.
Clinical Wastes Offensive Wastes
Infectious Waste Human and animal waste (faeces) and
Cytotoxic and cytostatic medicines incontinence pads, nappies and sanitary
Blood or bodily fluids, swabs waste
Sharps Medical/veterinary items such as gowns,
plaster casts
Minor first aid or self care i.e. plasters
Animal hygiene wastes i.e. bedding
Services provided by Huntingdonshire District Council
CLINICAL WASTE: Collections are limited to Dialysis Waste only.
These collections must be arranged by an authorised member of the Healthcare Team responsible for the individual's health care and not by the resident themselves.
The waste is collected in the yellow sacks provided by the health care team.
OFFENSIVE WASTE: Residents and some businesses can apply for a separate
collection of offensive waste.
The waste is collected in "Tiger" striped sacks which are supplied to the customer by Huntingdonshire District Council along with sufficient pre-numbered bag tags that must be used to seal the bag.
Businesses, such as residential homes or nursing homes, will have to pay a charge. Some charitable status organisations can receive the first five sacks per week free of charge.
The charge for offensive waste sacks is £0.85 per bag (on 12/09/11).
Both types of collections currently take place only on a Wednesday and Thursday.