Household waste - clinical waste

Clinical Waste Collections

Clinical waste may contain sharps (needles) and infectious waste. 

We provide a separate free collection service for clinical waste which must be requested by your GP or nurse. 

Need to dispose of medical needles/arrange a clinical collection?

1. Contact your GP or district nurse who will need to complete the form below.

    GP clinical form

This should then be  sent via:

• Post: Waste Services, Maidstone Borough Council,Bircholt Road, Park Wood Trading Estate ME15 9XY
• Fax: 01622 687580
• Email: waste@maidstone.gov.uk 

2. Once you have been referred, you will be contacted by waste services to arrange a collection.

3. Maidstone Borough Council's contractor, (Sita UK Ltd) will collect the waste from your doorstep either on a Wednesday or a Thursday dependant on collection area. 

Please note: Your clinical waste must be presented in the clinical sack provided. When collected, the contractor will leave a new sack for you. Sharp's boxes must not be placed in the clinical sack, they must be placed out for collection on the doorstep.  A new sharps box can then be requested from your GP or healthcare professional. 

If you administer medicines yourself you are responsible for disposing of the needles that you use correctly and safely. If a healthcare professional is administering your medication, they should dispose of the clinical waste for you.

Needles or syringes should never be put into your household rubbish or recycling bags, bins or boxes as they could injure the people who collect and process the waste, or spoil the quality of the recycling material.

Nursing homes and medical establishments should arrange for this type of collection through their normal waste contractor.

Incontinence pads and babies nappies are not treated a clinical waste and should be securely wrapped in suitable plastic bags and put with your general rubbish that cannot be recycled, for collection.

If you have needles to dispose of that have been used for a non medical purpose, Kent drug services can help you. Please call Turning Point on 01322 278916

To check the details of your refuse and recycling collections, please put your postcode in the box below and click on the ‘search’ button.