Tattoo and Piercing Waste
Healthcare Waste in your Tattoo & Piercing Business
As the owner or manager of practicing tattoo or piercing artists you are legally responsible for the waste that your studio produces on site.
For mobile artists you are responsible for the waste that is produced in the treatment of your client – it cannot be left with them.
You have a legal obligation to ensure the disposal of the “Healthcare” waste is carried out appropriately and that its final treatment meets the requirements of the legislation.
So what is healthcare waste?
The definition of Healthcare Waste (or medical/clinical) is defined by the Controlled Waste Regulations Act 2012 (*1) as:
“any waste which consists wholly or partly of human or animal tissue, blood or other body fluids, excretions, drugs or other pharmaceutical products, swabs or dressings, syringes, needles or other sharp instruments, being waste which unless rendered safe may prove hazardous to any person coming into contact with it; Other waste arising from medical, nursing, dental, veterinary, pharmaceutical or similar practice, investigation, treatment, care, teaching or research, or the collection of blood for transfusion, being waste which may cause infection to any person coming into contact with it.”
So for a Tattoo & Piercing Studio this includes all the sharps used and also the “soft waste” such as couch roll, swabs, any PPE used etc.
By ensuring you work with a fully registered and ethically validated service provider – which all Green Circle Direct suppliers are – you can rest assured your waste is going to the right place & being disposed of correctly!
You also take away the risk of a very substantial fine and reputational damage for not doing so.
Legal Obligations for Waste Management in Tattoo and Piercing Studios
As a producer of clinical waste, you are legally required to classify and describe the waste. You must be able to provide a full audit trail of where the waste your business produced finished up.
This is done through documentation describing the waste and other relevant details known as the Duty of Care Waste Transfer Notes & Hazardous/Special Waste Consignment Notes
This also prevents businesses and people committing the offences of depositing, disposing of or recovering controlled waste without an environmental permit or waste management licence. (You can’t simply put it in the dustbin or take it to a household recycling centre).
It ensures that the waste only goes to authorised establishments (the transfer) for final regulated disposal, safely contained and preventing escape spills.
Mixing waste is prohibited in England and Wales under Duty of Care and the Hazardous Waste Regulations.
Not only does this help to keep us all safe it has a massive impact on protecting both our home / local environment and that of our global planet too.
It really is “acting local and thinking Global”
We’ve put together a really useful diagram below that simply shows you what to put where to keep you safe and compliant.
What goes where? The where, why and what of tattoo and piercing waste management
At Green Circle Direct, we understand the gravity of this responsibility of proper healthcare waste disposal, and offer comprehensive solutions tailored to your needs.
Green Circle Direct provides free bins and delivery, without any sneaky rental charges. Our contracts are flexible and ensure that you’re not locked into something that doesn’t suit your studio’s needs.
Our deliver partners handle the waste with the utmost care, ensuring compliance with all regulations. With their services, you can rest assured that your waste is being collected and disposed of safely by registered waste carriers, complete with a thorough audit trail.
In our tattoo studios and shops, we generate different types of waste, from the materials used to work on the art including sharps and needles and ink, to gloves and paper towels, to old tattooing instruments and packaging materials. Proper tattoo waste recycling and disposal is key to keeping things clean and green. It’s a legal requirement and your local council inspection will check to ensure you have been using a professional waste management company and have records of the waste transfer notes.
Failure to comply can lead to substantial fines, reputational damage and in some cases could lead to practice closure.
Green Circle Direct isn’t just about meeting legal obligations – we are committed to sustainability. Our innovative, digital platform allows you to get an instant quote for sustainable waste disposal services. No hidden costs, no surprises – just safe, compliant disposal practices that help protect our environment.
When it comes to tattoo and healthcare waste disposal, Green Circle Direct has got you covered. Trust us to handle your waste responsibly, so you can focus on what you do best – creating incredible works of art.
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