Proper sharps disposal isn’t just a best practice; it’s a legal requirement.
If you run a healthcare facility, dental practice, tattoo studio, or beauty salon, understanding how to handle and dispose of sharps safely is crucial for keeping your staff, clients, and the environment safe. It’s also vital for staying compliant with UK regulations, which are being enforced more tightly in 2025 than ever before.
What exactly is a “sharp”?
A sharp is any object that can cut or puncture the skin. Common examples include:
- Hypodermic needles
- Syringes (with or without attached needles)
- Scalpels and razor blades
- Broken glass vials or ampoules
- Lancets and similar tools
When these items have been used, especially if they’re contaminated with blood, medicine, or bodily fluids, they pose serious health risks and must be handled with care.
The key regulations you need to know
A number of UK laws set out how sharps should be dealt with. Here are the main ones:
- Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013: Employers, particularly in healthcare, must take steps to prevent injuries, train staff, and provide proper sharps disposal containers.
- Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005 (and Scotland’s Special Waste Regulations 1996): If sharps are contaminated with medication or infectious materials, they’re classed as hazardous/special waste.
- Environmental Protection Act 1990: Your business has a legal “Duty of Care” to store, handle, and dispose of waste safely using licensed carriers.
- COSHH Regulations 2002: You must assess and control risks from harmful substances, which includes used sharps.
In short, once a sharp is used, it’s your responsibility until it’s properly disposed of by a licensed professional.
How to dispose of sharps safely
Sharps must go straight into a proper bin, one that’s rigid, puncture-proof, clearly labelled, and colour-coded.
Here’s a quick guide to colour coding:
- Yellow lid: Sharps contaminated with medication or drugs
- Purple lid: Cytotoxic or cytostatic waste (e.g. chemotherapy or hormone-related treatments)
Always close the bin when it’s about three-quarters full (don’t wait until it’s overflowing!) and keep it stored securely until collection.
What’s new in 2025?
The core laws haven’t changed much, but enforcement has stepped up. Authorities are focusing more on businesses that have historically had less oversight, like beauty clinics, tattoo studios, and aesthetic treatment providers.
Here’s what’s being expected now:
- More frequent inspections
- Clear, up-to-date records of waste handling
- Staff training on sharps and clinical waste management
- Digital waste documentation to make compliance easier to track
Recent research by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) shows local enforcement varies widely; some areas, like London, are stricter, while others are more relaxed. This inconsistency has led to calls for a national licensing scheme to bring standards into line.
Also on the horizon: a mandatory licensing system for the aesthetics industry. Introduced under the amended Health and Care Act (2022), this would raise standards and improve safety in non-surgical cosmetic procedures.
If you’re in beauty, aesthetics, or a similar sector, now’s the time to double-check that your sharps disposal process meets the mark.
How we can help Your business
Managing sharps disposal doesn’t have to be complicated and that’s where we come in. We provide fully managed sharps disposal services tailored to a wide range of clinical and cosmetic settings, including healthcare providers, dental practices, aesthetic clinics, tattoo studios, and more. Whether you’re a small, single-room operation or a multi-site organisation, we’ve got you covered.
Our service includes everything you need to stay compliant and safe: high-quality sharps bins in four practical sizes (5L, 7L, 11.5L, and 22L), designed to be slimline and space-saving so they fit neatly in treatment rooms or behind counters. Each container comes with a secure, temporary lock lid to prevent accidental access and reduce the risk of injury or contamination.
We’ll also handle the rest, with scheduled collections through a licensed waste carrier and full adherence to UK waste and infection control regulations, giving you total peace of mind.
So if your business handles sharps waste and is looking for reliable, compliant, and fully serviced collection and disposal, then get a free quote on our website today.
