If you’ve ever spent time in hospital, you’ll probably have noticed different bins dotted around. Some of them are just normal bins with black bin bags lining them. Others are coloured, marked, and more industrial looking, with colour coded bags lining them.
These colours are part of a strict colour code that tells hospital staff and patients what’s in each bin. And this is really important; these are waste streams that cannot be mixed, because it’s dangerous. We’re talking about biological, surgical, and offensive waste – the kind that can make us very unwell.
Dangerous waste poses a real threat of harm to people, animals, and the environment. Even the very stinkiest bin you’ve ever had to empty is absolutely nothing compared to hospital waste. Hazardous waste is truly nasty stuff, even in its tamest form.
So, clinical waste bags use these colour codes to distinguish between the different types of waste produced in hospitals, dentists, and GP surgeries, to make sure waste is handled and disposed of properly. There are strict regulations in place for some types of medical waste; like radioactive material used in cancer treatments and some tests, and of course for infectious waste.
This colour coding system is an incredibly important line of defence – and it also improves hospital efficiency.
Hazardous waste needs serious solutions. Polythene hazardous waste bags are non-negotiable for disposing of anything that could cause harm, infection, disease, or poisoning.
Different colour bags are used for different waste types, and in this post, we’ll take a closer look at what colour bags are used in hospitals for handling hazardous waste.
Hospital waste bag colours and meanings
Below, you’ll find a comprehensive table listing the different colour codes for hospital waste bags. Medical waste is the most common use for hazardous waste bags, which are often used in conjunction with bins. Sometimes, bags are omitted in favour of containers, if the primary use is sharps (things like needles and surgical blades) which would poke through a bag easily.
Hospital, dental, and GP surgery teams all recognise the following clinical waste bag colours, what goes in them, and how to dispose of them appropriately:
| Colour | Waste type | Usage recommendations |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow 🟨 | Clinical, highly infectious | Yellow hazardous waste bags are used for any materials (like gloves, PPE, or syringes) contaminated with infectious bodily fluids. Sealed bins are used for sharps. All yellow stream waste is sent for incineration. |
| Orange 🟧 | Clinical, infectious | All materials (including PPE) used for patients suspected to be infectious must be disposed of in the orange hazardous waste disposal stream. Bags can be printed with usage details. |
| Tiger 🟨 ⬛️ | Offensive, non-infectious | Offensive waste includes colostomy bags, nappies, incontinence pads, and disposable PPE that have not come into contact with infectious body fluids. Tiger-coloured waste bags are commonly a yellow base, printed with black stripes. |
| Red 🟥 | Anatomical | Any waste arising from surgical procedures (body parts, blood bags and organs) is placed in the red waste stream, for incineration. |
| Blue 🟦 | Medicinal | Blue waste bins are used for non-toxic medicines that have expired and need to be disposed of. All blue waste is incinerated. |
| Purple 🟪 | Cytotoxic and Cytostatic | Cytotoxic and cytostatic waste is anything contaminated by cancer treatment and chemotherapy drugs. This includes needles and syringes used to administer chemo treatments. |
| Clear ▢ | Lateral flow tests | This waste stream was used for the disposal of Covid-19 testing materials. Clear bags can also be printed, if required. |
| White ⬜️ | Dental, toxic | White waste is used for toxic and non-toxic dental waste, like gypsum and amalgam. Amalgam is used in tooth fillings, and while considered safe for human use, contains mercury – a poisonous metal that needs careful disposal. |
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Yellow hazardous waste bags for other materials
Yellow hazardous waste bags, printed with warning labels, are a generic solution for all types of hazardous waste – even outside of a hospital setting. They are made of heavy duty polythene, and often sealed with cable ties for security.
Yellow waste bags are always incinerated, and do not go to landfill.
Yellow hazardous waste bags can be used for the rags and wipes used in the cleanup of most chemical and oil spillages, as one example – but can also store many other types of dangerous waste. LDPE bags are highly resistant to corrosion from strong solvents, and even some acids and bases, as this chart shows.
For ease of identification from other types of hazardous waste, blue polythene bags can also be used.
Colour coded clinical waste bags solve a major problem
Waste and bins might seem simple, but in a hospital, safe and compliant disposal of clinical waste is actually a significant challenge. How else could staff instantly identify hazardous materials?
Thankfully, the colour bags used in hospitals are a universally understood system.
And this is by design. benefits. The hospital bag colour coding system enhances safety, guarantees compliance, and makes hospitals run more efficiently.
Each colour acts as an immediate indicator – an this clarity of message prevents accidental exposure to dangerous substances for staff, patients, and waste handlers. It also helps waste move more quickly, and eliminates the decision-making for which bag to use for what kind of waste.
Also, hospital and hazardous waste management is tightly regulated, and the use of coloured bags provides a simple way to keep hospitals acting within their legal requirements.
The best part is these bags are cheap, effective, and with additional printing, even account for colour blind people. They’re truly a universal system, designed to be totally unambiguous.
Extra strength: using gusseted bags
Hazardous waste bags are typically gusseted bags, which give additional strength and capacity. That’s important when the material they contain is likely to cause significant harm in the event of a leak.
It’s also important to use heavy duty polythene where appropriate, to prevent notching, leaking and lower the risk of contamination. Proper sealing must be considered when dealing with hazardous waste, and all disposal should be carried out in accordance with government guidelines.
Coloured polythene bags for hospital waste
Order colour coded hospital waste bags from NPF Packaging – the polythene packaging experts. Get a quote now, or call us on 01773 820415 to get started.