Hospital Bins: Types, Examples & Segregation Guide

Proper clinical waste management is essential for patient safety, staff protection, and regulatory compliance across all UK healthcare settings. At the core of this system are hospital waste bins, bags, and specialist containers — each playing a vital role in how waste is handled, segregated, and ultimately disposed of.

In this guide, we’ll walk through the different types of hospital bins, explain what hospital waste bags are used for, and highlight other essential containers found in clinical environments. We’ll also cover why waste segregation matters, who’s responsible for it, and how to ensure your organisation is staying compliant with regulations.

What Are Hospital Waste Bins?

Hospital waste bins are specialised containers designed to safely and securely collect different types of waste generated within healthcare settings. Unlike general waste bins, they are clearly colour-coded and labelled to help healthcare professionals dispose of waste correctly, reducing the risk of contamination and ensuring compliance with UK regulations such as the Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) 07-01 and Environment Agency requirements.

These bins are found in all areas of a hospital — from operating theatres and wards to laboratories and admin offices — and are essential for handling items such as sharps, pharmaceuticals, bodily fluids, and offensive waste.

Stericycle’s clinical waste bins, have features like:

• Hands-free and foot-operated, reducing the need for contact
  
  

• Leak-proof and puncture-resistant, ideal for sharps or liquid waste
  
  

• Available in various sizes (e.g. 30L, 50L, 60L) to suit different needs
  
  

• Compliant with HTM 07-01 and Environment Agency guidance
  
  

By using purpose-built bins tailored for different types of waste, hospitals can significantly reduce health risks, ensure regulatory compliance, and support efficient waste management processes.

In the next section, we’ll take a closer look at the most common types of hospital waste bins — including what each colour means and the kind of waste it’s designed to handle.

Hospital Bin Types & EWC Codes

Hospital Waste Bags: Why They Matter & How They’re Used

Hospital waste bags are an essential part of any clinical waste management system. They’re specifically designed for safe containment and transport of healthcare waste — from used PPE and dressings to pharmaceuticals and anatomical materials.

Unlike standard refuse bags, hospital waste bags are made to meet strict UK guidelines like HTM 07-01, ensuring they’re strong enough to handle hazardous or infectious materials without leaking or tearing. They are tied securely with a cable tie or using the swan neck method

Proper use of hospital waste bags supports:

• Infection prevention by reducing cross-contamination risks
  
  

• Regulatory compliance, especially during audits and inspections
  
  

• Waste treatment accuracy, helping ensure the right waste ends up at the right facility (e.g. incineration vs alternative treatment)
  
  

For a full breakdown of Stericycle’s hospital waste bags and their usage, including guidance on bag types and disposal methods, visit their product page.

Whether used in patient rooms, theatres, or labs, hospital waste bags make it possible to manage clinical waste safely — from the moment it’s generated to its final disposal.

What Other Containers Are Used in a Hospital Setting?

In addition to hospital waste bins and bags, healthcare facilities rely on a range of specialist containers to manage different types of clinical waste safely and compliantly. These containers are designed to meet strict UK guidelines and help healthcare professionals handle waste efficiently across various settings — from wards to labs and theatres.

At Stericycle, a variety of hospital-grade containers are available, each tailored to a specific waste stream:

1. Sharps Containers
   

   Used for the safe disposal of needles, syringes, lancets, and other sharp instruments. These rigid, puncture-resistant containers help reduce the risk of injury and are available in a range of sizes and lid types (including lockable lids).

2. Pharmaceutical Waste Containers
   

   Designed for out-of-date, unused, or partially used medications. Stericycle offers containers for both non-hazardous pharmaceutical waste and cytotoxic/cytostatic waste, ensuring safe and compliant disposal.

3. Clinical Waste Wheelie Bins
   

   Heavy-duty, reusable containers used for bulk clinical waste or waste unsuitable for bagging. These are often found in high-throughput areas like operating theatres and treatment rooms.

Together with bags, these containers form the foundation of a safe clinical waste system. But having the right equipment is only part of the solution — how waste is segregated at the point of use is just as important.

Why Is Waste Segregation Important in Hospitals?

Effective waste segregation in hospitals is vital for protecting healthcare workers, patients, and the wider environment. By separating waste at the point of disposal, staff reduce the risk of injury and infection, particularly from sharps or infectious materials.

Segregation also ensures that each waste stream is treated appropriately — for example, preventing non-hazardous waste from being incinerated unnecessarily. This supports environmental goals and helps control rising disposal costs.

Most importantly, proper segregation is a legal requirement. UK healthcare providers must follow HTM 07-01 guidelines and the Environment Agency’s Duty of Care to ensure waste is stored, labelled, and handled correctly from start to finish.

Who Is Responsible?

Managing hospital waste safely isn’t the job of one person — it requires shared responsibility across departments, with each role playing a key part in ensuring safe handling, segregation, and compliance.

Here are the key people typically involved in hospital waste management:

1. Clinical Staff (Doctors, Nurses etc.)

   Responsible for segregating waste correctly at the point of generation, including placing the right waste in the right bin or bag and ensuring containers are not overfilled.
   
   

2. Facilities and Estates Teams

   Oversee internal storage, movement, and basic compliance checks. They ensure that containers are correctly labelled, safely stored, and ready for collection.

    

3. Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Teams

   Provide guidance on safe waste handling procedures and oversee training to ensure that waste segregation aligns with hygiene and safety standards.

    

4. Waste Managers or Environmental Officers

   Manage the hospital’s waste contracts, audits, and overall compliance with regulations. They also liaise with external contractors.

    

5. External Waste Contractors (e.g. Stericycle)

   Responsible for the collection, transport, and treatment or disposal of healthcare waste — ensuring it is handled in line with the environmental legislation.

    

6. Senior Management / Trust Boards

   Ultimately accountable for ensuring that systems, policies, and budgets are in place to support compliant and sustainable waste practices throughout the organisation.

Clear roles and responsibilities are essential for effective hospital waste management. When each team member understands their part, from frontline staff to external contractors, it helps create a safer, more compliant, and more sustainable healthcare environment.

Order Stericycle's Hospital Waste Bags Today!