Dental practices hold a range of medicines: local anaesthetics, emergency drugs such as adrenaline and glucagon, fluoride varnishes, antibiotics, topical agents and, in sedation practices, controlled drugs such as midazolam. When they expire or are part-used, they must not go down the sink, in clinical bags or in general waste. Non-cytotoxic medicines go in blue-lidded pharmaceutical containers for incineration, and any cytotoxic or cytostatic medicines go in purple-lidded containers. Controlled drugs must be denatured before disposal, following the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 and your controlled drugs procedure.
Gypsum and plaster models, study casts and impressions poured in plaster are not clinical waste once they have been disinfected, but they should still be kept out of general waste. When gypsum is landfilled with biodegradable waste it can produce hydrogen sulphide gas, so it needs its own container and an appropriate treatment route. Practices and laboratories often accumulate boxes of old models, which are best cleared in one collection.
What is included
- Blue-lidded containers for non-cytotoxic medicines
- Purple-lidded containers where any cytotoxic or cytostatic medicines are used
- Collection of expired emergency drugs and part-used medicines
- Advice on denaturing controlled drugs before disposal
- Separate containers for gypsum and plaster models
- Bulk clearance of old study models and casts
- The correct transfer or consignment note for each stream
Who it is for
- Practices replacing expired emergency drug kits
- Sedation practices disposing of controlled drugs
- Orthodontic practices and labs with large stocks of old study models
- Practices clearing medicine cupboards before an inspection
- Practices closing, merging or moving premises
How much does it cost?
As a guide, UK collection of pharmaceutical waste or gypsum usually costs around £15 to £45 per container depending on size, and is often cheaper when added to a regular managed service collection. See our full cost guide.
