September 17, 2025
What is a Sharps Bin? Types, Colour Coding & Safe Disposal
A sharps bin is more than just a container, it’s a crucial safety measure for anyone handling needles, scalpels, or other sharp medical instruments.
Whether in a hospital, dental surgery, veterinary clinic, or home healthcare setting, the right sharps bin helps prevent injury, control infection risks, and ensure compliance with UK waste regulations.
In this guide, we’ll explain what a sharps bin is, the different types available, how to use one safely, and the rules that govern their disposal. We’ll also cover what happens after collection and why partnering with a trusted provider like Stericycle ensures your sharps waste is managed securely from start to finish.
What is a Sharps Bin
A sharps bin is a specially designed, rigid container used for the safe storage and disposal of items that can puncture or cut the skin. These include used needles, syringes, scalpels, lancets, and other sharp medical instruments.
Made from puncture-resistant plastic and fitted with a secure lid, a sharps bin prevents accidental injury and reduces the risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens. Once full, it should be sealed and collected through a licensed sharps bin disposal service to ensure safe and compliant handling.
Sharps bins are an essential part of infection control, protecting healthcare workers, patients, and the public. They are commonly used in hospitals, GP surgeries, dental practices, veterinary clinics, laboratories, and at-home care settings.
Types of Sharps Bins
Sharps bins come in a range of sizes, designs, and specifications to suit different environments and waste volumes. Choosing the right type ensures safe handling, compliance with UK regulations, and efficient sharps bin disposal.
By Size & Capacity
- Small bins - Portable options ideal for community healthcare workers, personal use, or travel.
- Medium bins - Commonly found in GP surgeries, dental practices, and small clinics.
- Large bins - Designed for hospitals, laboratories, and other high-volume healthcare settings.
By Lid or Closure Type
- Temporary closure - Allows the bin to be opened and closed multiple times before final disposal.
- Permanent lockable lid - Seals the bin completely once full, preventing any risk of reopening.
Standard sharps waste - For items like needles, syringes, and lancets.
Mixed sharps waste - For contaminated scalpels, broken glass, or sharps containing medicinal residues.
Selecting the right bin is key to ensuring both safety and compliance, as different waste types may require specific colour-coded bins and disposal methods. This colour coding system is standardised in the UK and helps users instantly identify the correct bin for their waste type.
Sharps Bin Colour Coding
In the UK, sharps bins are colour-coded to reflect the type of waste they hold and the appropriate disposal method:
Yellow Sharps Bin - For sharps contaminated with non-cytotoxic medicinal or infectious waste (e.g., used medication needles). These also require incineration.
Orange Sharps Bin - For sharps not contaminated with medicinal products (e.g., phlebotomy needles). These typically follow a different disposal stream.
Purple Sharps Bin - For sharps contaminated with cytotoxic or cytostatic medicines. These require incineration and specific handling procedures.
This coding system aligns with NHS and healthcare regulations, ensuring waste is properly segregated for safe disposal. For detailed national guidance, see the NHS England Health Technical Memorandum 07-01.
Legislation & Compliance for Sharps Disposal in the UK
The use and disposal of sharps bins in the UK is regulated to protect public health, prevent injury, and ensure hazardous waste is managed responsibly. Organisations and individuals handling sharps must follow a combination of health, safety, and environmental laws.
Key regulations include:
- Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013 - Sets out employer responsibilities for preventing injuries from medical sharps, including training, safe disposal, and incident reporting.
- Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005 - Governs the storage, transport, and disposal of hazardous waste, including sharps contaminated with medicines or bloodborne pathogens.
- Environmental Protection Act 1990 - Requires proper segregation, secure storage, and transfer of waste to authorised carriers.
What Does it Mean for You?
Healthcare providers, dental practices, veterinary clinics, and other sharps users are legally required to:
- Use approved, puncture-resistant sharps bins.
- Label and store them in a secure location.
- Arrange collection through a licensed sharps bin disposal service, like Stericycle.
How to Use a Sharps Bin Safely
Correct use of a sharps bin is essential for preventing injury, reducing infection risks, and staying compliant with UK waste regulations. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide:
Step 1 - Prepare the bin
Place the sharps bin in a stable, accessible location before starting any procedure that involves sharps. Make sure the lid is fitted correctly and the opening is ready for use.
Step 2 - Dispose of sharps immediately after use
Place used needles, syringes, scalpels, or other sharps directly into the bin without passing them between people or setting them down.
Step 3 - Never attempt to alter or recap sharps
Avoid bending, breaking, or recapping needles, as this increases the risk of injury.
Step 4 - Monitor the fill level
Keep an eye on the bin’s fill line. Stop using it once the line is reached to prevent overfilling.
Step 5 - Secure and store the bin
When not in use, keep the bin closed and store it in a safe place, away from children, pets, and unauthorised access.
Step 6 - Seal the bin for collection
Once full, lock the lid securely according to manufacturer instructions and arrange licensed sharps box disposal through an approved waste management provider.
For a clear visual guide, download this Stericycle poster on sharps waste segregation and the correct bin for each waste type.
What Happens After Sharps Bin Disposal?
Once a sharps bin is sealed and collected by a licensed waste management provider, it is transported securely to an authorised treatment facility.
Here, the waste is processed in line with UK environmental and healthcare regulations. Most medicinally contaminated sharps undergo high-temperature incineration to ensure complete destruction, while certain waste streams, such as cytotoxic sharps, require specialist handling. After treatment, any remaining materials are disposed of responsibly to minimise environmental impact.
The infographic below outlines Stericycle’s step-by-step Energy From Waste (EFW) incineration process, from the moment your waste is collected to the point where it is safely destroyed, and any reusable outputs are recovered.
Why Choose Stericycle for Sharps Disposal Services?
Stericycle offers a complete sharps waste management solution, ensuring safety, compliance, and convenience at every stage. Our service helps you:
- Stay compliant - Fully licensed, UK-compliant sharps bin disposal.
- Improve safety - Puncture-resistant bins and secure collection processes.
- Save time - Nationwide, reliable collection network.
- Track your waste - Full audit trail from collection to disposal.
- Support sustainability - Environmentally responsible treatment and recycling where possible.
