§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has given to the NHS in England with regard to the disposal of clinical waste from hospitals; and if he will make a statement. [147202]
§ Mr. DenhamThe National Health Service has a range of guidance on waste management and in particular the disposal of clinical waste from hospitals produced by NHS Estates Agency (an Executive Agency of the Department of Health) and other organisations. The main sources of information are:
The Health and Safety Executive
(i) The Safe Disposal of clinical Waste (1999)NHS Estates Agency:
- (ii) Strategic Guide for Waste Management (1991)
- (iii) Strategic Guide for Clinical Waste Management (1994)
- (iv) Health Guidance Note—Clinical waste incineration—joint venture arrangements (1994)
- (v) Health Guidance Note—Safe disposal of clinical waste— whole hospital policy guidance (1995)
- (vi) Health Technical Memoranda 2065—Healthcare waste management—segregation of waste streams in clinical areas (1997)
- (vii) Health Technical Memoranda 2075—Clinical waste disposal/ treatment technologies (alternatives to incineration) (1998).
Copies are available in the Library.
Further guidance is being prepared to re-emphasise the NHS's responsibilities as waste producers, under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.