Disposing of clinical waste
Clinical waste includes:
- infectious items
- identifiable human tissue
- needles from syringes
Items that are not clinical waste include:
- incontinence pads
- catheter bags
- stoma bags
- syringes that have had their needles removed
- PEG tubes or stomach-feeding equipment
These items have no contact with infective material and are taken as ordinary waste, like used disposable nappies and sanitary products.
If you are a resident of Thurrock, you can apply for clinical waste collections from your home using the online form below.
Apply for clinical waste collection
Safe disposal of 'sharps'
You can safely dispose of clinical sharps – needles, syringes, lancets or needle clippers – for free in boxes we provide at the pharmacies below.
| Pharmacy | Address |
|---|---|
| Allcures Pharmacy | 62 High Street, Grays, RM17 6NA |
| Boots | 17 Derwent Parade, South Ockendon, RM15 5EF |
| Hassengate Pharmacy | Southend Road, Stanford-le-Hope, SS17 0PH |
| Dock Pharmacy | 128 Dock Road, Tilbury, RM18 7BJ |
You must put your sharps in a small sharps bin – a specially designed rigid box with a lid – before taking them to the pharmacies.
Do not take loose sharps to the pharmacies.
Go to NHS: how should I dispose of used needles of sharps for advice on sharps and sharps bins.