The Council provides a free clinical waste collection and disposal service for householders within the Borough.

What is Clinical Waste?

1. Any waste which consists wholly or partly of human or animal tissue, blood or other bodily fluids, excretions, drugs or other pharmaceutical products, swabs or dressings, syringes, needles or other sharp instruments.
2. Any other waste arising from medical, nursing, dental, veterinary, pharmaceutical or similar practice, investigation, treatment, care, teaching or research, or in the collection of blood for transfusion.

Please ensure your clinical waste is collected appropriately and should never under any circumstances placed in the blue recycling bin.

Warning - Clinical Waste must never be placed in household waste sacks.

Yellow clinical waste bags and/or boxes or containers are supplied for the safe collection of waste.

Collections can be arranged on a weekly, fortnightly, monthly or as and when basis, depending on your requirements.

To request a collection, please contact Swale Borough Council Direct by phone on 01795 417850, or email: csc@swale.gov.uk

How to dispose of medical needles

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.

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

How to dispose of medical needles in Swale

Clinical waste collections can be arranged weekly, fortnightly, monthly or ‘as and when’ depending on your requirements. Collections have to be requested and can be arranged either by telephone or email.

Need to dispose of medical needles?

1. A free collection service is available.
2. To request a collection call 01795 417850 or email csc@swale.gov.uk.
3. Collections can be arranged weekly, fortnightly or monthly or 'as and when' basis.
4. Swale District Council's contractor (Biffa Municipal) will collect from you on a specific day of the week and deliver a new sharps box on collection.

For further information:

Call: 01795 417850
Email: csc@swale.gov.uk

Please note: Nursing Homes and medical establishments should arrange for this type of collection through their normal waste collection contractor.

Non-Medical Needles

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

KCA - 01795 590635
Areas covered: Ashford, Canterbury, Dover, Faversham, Gravesham, Shepway, Sittingbourne and Thanet.

Turning Point - 01322 278916
Areas covered: Dartford, Isle of Sheppey, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Malling, Tunbridge Wells.