Waste Management in Veterinary Practices

Flashcards covering waste management principles, regulations, and disposal methods for veterinary practices.

What are some key pieces of legislation related to waste management in veterinary practices?

The Environmental Protection Act 1990, Special Waste Regulations (amended) 1996, and Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005.

What is the duty of care that veterinary practices have regarding waste management?

To ensure waste is stored and disposed of correctly, waste is only handled by authorized personnel, and appropriate records are kept.

What section of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 is related to Commercial Waste Documentation?

Section 34(5) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

What are some important considerations when handling waste?

Protect yourself, understand the type of waste, only handle what you're trained for, wear PPE, and maintain good hygiene.

What are some examples of non-hazardous waste?

Domestic waste, offensive waste, pharmaceuticals (non-cytotoxic/cytostatic), and cadavers (unless harboring a notifiable disease).

What are some examples of hazardous waste?

Infectious/clinical waste, sharps, cytotoxic and cytostatic waste, photographic/radiographic chemicals, and other items like fluorescent light tubes and batteries.

According to the new guidance required by March 2025, what categories must businesses separate their domestic waste into?

Dry recyclable materials, food waste, and black bin waste (residual waste).

What type of waste is offensive waste?

Faeces, Bedding, Clinical materials (not infectious), into tiger stripe bag

What type of waste is pharmaceuticals?

Empty bottles, syringes, whole drugs, denatured controlled drugs, and items that have or had drugs in them. into blue topped bin

How must controlled drugs be disposed of using a denaturing kit?

Liquids are added straight to the kit, and tablets are crushed, mixed with water, then added. Schedule 2 drugs must have their disposal witnessed. dispose of in pharmaceutical waste

How must Cadavers with Notifiable Disease be disposed?

APHA/DEFRA will dispose of it.

What is included in infectious/clinical waste?

Animal tissue, body parts, blood or other body fluids, waste from infectious disease and zoonotic patients, faeces and urine if the animal has a zoonotic disease and items contaminated with pharmaceuticals. into yellow clinical waste bag

What is included in Sharps waste?

Needles, scalpel blades, hypodermic needles, can be contaminated with bodily fluids and pharmaceuticals.

What is Cytotoxic and Cytostatic?

Medicinal Products, Toxic, carcinogenic, toxic for reproduction or mutagenic, drugs cause issues in the body, cancer treatment, should not handle when pregnant. into sharps bin with purple lid.

What is included in Cytotoxic and Cytostatic Waste?

Anything contaminated with cytotoxic or cytostatic pharmaceuticals.

What is included in Photographic / Radiographic Chemicals?

fixer and developer solutions.

What are the potential consequences of poor waste disposal?

Environmental damage, infectious/zoonotic diseases, risk of wildlife health with chemicals, human injury, and prosecution of organization and individual.