Reducing Garbage Waste and Saving Money on Garbage Removal

Safe Disposal of Sharp Waste items in a Skip Bin

by Clarence Robinson

Sharp objects occurring from broken glass, bottles and other similar items can cause harmful injuries if poorly handled. This is particularly risky when using a skip bin, because sharp waste placed directly in the skip can cause cuts and bruises to workers and other people who handle the waste. 

Sharp waste can take on many different forms, so it is important to properly classify these items and how they should be safely handled during disposal.

Classifying sharp waste 

Sharp waste refers to a broad category of waste items that can be generated from commercial premises, community locations, and homes. Any items that may need to be placed in a sharp waste container are classified as sharps. Sharps include the following items:

i. Broken glass and bottles

Pieces of broken glass, bottles, and other sharp items in the home fall under sharp waste. They can occur when regular household items fall and break, either intentionally or by accident. These items often need to be handled carefully (before they can be placed in the skip bin) to prevent injury to people.

ii. Sharp items from medical facilities 

Sharp waste also includes objects such as syringes, surgical instruments, and other objects that are designed to pierce through the skin. In fact, any objects with a sharp pointed edge (or items that can break into sharp pieces) are often classified as sharps. 

Sharp wastes from medical facilities require stringent waste disposal procedures, because these items can result in infection after they pierce the skin. 

iii. Sharp waste from businesses 

Businesses can also produce sharp waste. From pieces of metal with sharp edges to industry waste that can pierce or cut through the skin, this potentially hazardous industrial waste should be carefully disposed of.

Safe disposal practices for sharp waste 

Due to the broad risks that sharp waste presents to you and other people, it is important to carefully dispose of these items in a special type of skip bin. It is important to notify the hiring company of the type of waste you need to dispose of before hiring the skip bin. 

After you're supplied with the right type of skip, make sure you dispose of all sharps in a safe manner. When handling items such as needles, syringes, and other medical waste, the items should be placed in approved waste containers that are properly labelled. The container should be a hard container that has a proper fitting lid. 

In homes, any broken glass or bottles should also be placed in clearly labelled boxes, or wrapped in paper to cushion sharp edges. Once wrapped, they can be placed in dedicated waste bags that have clearly visible labels. Industries with sharp waste also need to place such items in protective containers before placing them in the skip bin. For more information or assistance, contact local rubbish removal services.

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