Colour Coding Guide

The correct onsite segregation of healthcare and infectious waste for disposal is vital to ensure compliance with government regulations. Our helpful waste management guide shows the various colour codes for each waste type, whether the waste is hazardous or non-hazardous codes to describe the waste.

The different waste streams:

Yellow-Black

Offensive (Tiger)

The black and yellow offensive waste stream, also known as the tiger stripe, is for non-hazardous, non-infectious waste that cannot be placed into the mixed municipal waste stream. This waste stream can be recycled, incinerated or deep landfilled.

EWC Codes: 18 01 04 or 20 01 99 | Animal; 18 02 03

Offensive waste examples: Colostomy bags, nappies, incontinence pads, disposable PPE that does not come into contact with infectious body fluids.

Clinical Infectious

The orange clinical infectious waste stream is for hazardous waste from patients that are known to be, or suspected of being infectious. Chemical, Medicinal and anatomical waste must not be disposed of in this stream.

EWC Codes: Human; 18 01 03* | Animal; 18 02 02*

Clinical infectious waste examples: Disposable used PPE, dressings, swabs etc that have been in contact with a patient that is known to be or is suspected of being infectious.

Yellow

Clinical Infectious Contaminated with Chemicals

The yellow clinical infectious waste stream is hazardous and is for category A pathogens and / or medicinally contaminated infectious waste. This waste stream requires incineration.

EWC Codes: Human; 18 01 03* and 18 01 09 (Sharps); 18 01 03* and 18 01 06* and / or 18 01 07 (Rigid Containers / Bags) | Animal; 18 02 02* and 18 02 08 (Sharps); 18 02 02* and 18 02 05* and / or 18 02 06 (Rigid Containers / Bags)

Clinical infectious waste contaminated with chemicals examples: Disposable PPE, garments, swabs and dressings, diagnostic kits / sample vials sharps contaminated by potentially infectious bodily fluids and chemicals.

Related products: Clinical waste bins and sharps bins

Blue

Medicinal

The blue medicinal waste stream is for non-hazardous medicines and denatured drugs that require disposal and pose no risk of containing cytotoxic or cytostatic properties. This waste stream requires disposal by incineration.

EWC Codes: Human; 18 01 09 | Animal; 18 02 08

Medicinal waste examples: Tablets in containers, blister packs, bottles, inhaler cartridges, droplet bottles, liquid medicines, solid medicines etc.

Related products: Pharmaceutical bins and sharps bins

Purple

Cytotoxic and Cytostatic

The purple waste stream is for hazardous waste contaminated by chemotherapy-related drugs and some medicines which contain cytotoxic or cytostatic properties.

EWC Codes: Human; 18 01 03* and / or 18 01 08* | Animal; 18 02 02* and / or 18 02 07*

Cytotoxic and cytostatic waste examples: Needles and syringes used after chemotherapy is administered; partially used or empty medicine containers.

Related products: Pharmaceutical bins and sharps bins

Red

Anatomical

The red anatomical waste stream is for all body parts that require disposal and is most commonly associated with surgical procedures. This waste stream contains hazardous and non-hazardous waste. This waste stream is incinerated.

EWC Codes: Human; 18 01 03* and / or 18 01 06* if chemically preserved) | Animal; 18 02 02* and / or 18 02 03 (and 18 02 05* if chemically preserved)

Anatomical waste examples: Body parts; , organs; , placenta, blood bags and blood preserves.

Related products: Clinical waste bins and sharps bins

White

Dental (Amalgam)

Hazardous amalgam waste must be stored safely to prevent exposure to toxic mercury vapours.

EWC Code: Amalgam; 18 01 10*

Dental waste examples: Amalgam is found in tooth fillings and capsules containing residues.

White

Gypsum

Non-hazardous gypsum waste is required by the WHTM 07-01 to either be recycled / recovered or disposed of in a specialist landfill in a separate gypsum cell.

EWC Code: Human; 18 01 04 | Animal; 18 02 03

Dental waste examples: Plaster casts and dental moulds.