Sharps collection and disposal

Sharps bins supplied and collected for clinics, studios, pharmacies and care homes, with the right lid colour and paperwork. Typical UK costs.

In short: A sharps collection service supplies rigid sharps containers with the correct lid colour, collects them when full or on a schedule, and sends them for treatment with the right consignment paperwork. It is for any business that uses needles, syringes, blades or lancets, from tattoo and aesthetics studios to GP surgeries and care homes. A sharps-only service for a small UK clinic or studio typically costs around £15 to £50 a month.

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Sharps are anything that can cut or puncture skin: needles, syringes with needles attached, scalpel blades, lancets, cannulas, tattoo needles and broken glass ampoules. They must go into a rigid, puncture-resistant container that meets the UN3291 and BS EN ISO 23907 standards, never into bags. The lid colour tells the treatment plant what is inside, and that decides whether the container can go for alternative treatment or must be incinerated.

Getting the lid colour right matters for compliance and cost. Orange lids are for sharps not contaminated with medicines, such as blood-taking needles and acupuncture needles. Yellow lids are for sharps contaminated with medicines, such as used syringes after an injection. Purple lids are for sharps contaminated with cytotoxic or cytostatic medicines. We match containers to what you actually use, size them to your volumes and collect them before they fill past the line.

What is included

Sharps containers in the right lid colour and size for your work
Advice on which lid colour applies to each procedure
Scheduled collections, or collections on request when containers are full
Replacement containers left at each collection
Correct waste codes on every container stream
Hazardous waste consignment note for each collection in England and Wales
Treatment at a permitted facility by the right route for the contents
Guidance on safe assembly, filling, closing and labelling

Who it is for

Tattoo, piercing and aesthetics studios
Physiotherapists, acupuncturists and podiatrists
Pharmacies offering vaccinations and injection services
GP surgeries, dental practices and private clinics
Care and nursing homes with residents who use insulin or injections
Vets, groomers using sharps, and laboratories

How much does it cost?

As a guide, a sharps-only service for a small UK clinic or studio typically costs £15 to £50 a month, and a one-off collection of a few sharps containers is usually £40 to £100, depending on container size, lid colour and frequency. See our full cost guide.

How it works

Tell us what you use

Let us know the procedures you carry out and roughly how many containers you fill, so we can match lid colours and sizes.

Containers supplied

The right containers are delivered with guidance on assembly, safe filling and closing.

Collect on schedule

Full, closed and labelled containers are collected weekly, monthly or every few months, and replaced.

Paperwork issued

Each collection comes with the consignment note you need to keep for your records and inspections.

Sharps collection and disposal: FAQs

Which sharps container lid colour do I need?

Orange lids are for sharps with no medicines, such as acupuncture and blood-taking needles. Yellow lids are for sharps contaminated with non-cytotoxic medicines, such as syringes used for vaccines, insulin or vitamin injections. Purple lids are for sharps used with cytotoxic or cytostatic medicines. If you are not sure, tell your contractor exactly what each sharp has been used for and they will confirm the stream.

How full can a sharps bin get?

Never fill a sharps container past the fill line marked on the side, usually around three-quarters full. Overfilled containers cannot close properly and are a common cause of needlestick injuries. Once at the line, lock the temporary closure into the final closure, label the container with your details and the date, and store it securely for collection.

How long can I keep a sharps bin before collection?

Containers should be closed when they reach the fill line, and many contractors and infection control policies recommend closing and replacing partly filled containers after around three months even if they are not full. Closed containers should be stored securely and collected without unreasonable delay.

Can I take used sharps to a pharmacy?

Some pharmacies and councils run sharps schemes for householders who self-inject at home, but these are not for business waste. Any business that produces sharps, including small studios and mobile practitioners, is responsible for its own waste and needs its own collection arrangement with a registered carrier.