Adapting to the Latest Healthcare Waste Guidance
The publication of HTM 07-01 (2023) has brought a new perspective to the way dental practices manage their clinical waste. Instead of automatically treating all materials as potentially infectious, the guidance introduces a risk-based system. This marks a clear departure from the older “universal precaution” approach and aims to make waste management more proportionate, efficient, and environmentally responsible.
In practical terms, this means that only waste from patients with a confirmed or suspected infection should be categorized as infectious. By contrast, items generated from patients without signs of infection can often be managed as offensive waste, household-type waste, or recyclable material—as long as they have not been contaminated. This shift encourages dental teams to make thoughtful decisions rather than applying a blanket rule to every item that leaves the surgery.
With this new flexibility comes an equally strong emphasis on professional diligence. Practices are expected to strengthen their risk assessments, maintain accurate medical records, and provide regular staff training. These measures are intended to ensure that infections are not overlooked, even when patients do not present obvious symptoms at the point of care.
The updated guidance also sets out more precise expectations for the handling, storage, and documentation of waste streams. This includes clearer rules on sharps disposal, the correct use of tiger-striped bags, and the application of European Waste Catalogue (EWC) codes. The intention is to create a more uniform system of compliance across healthcare providers, reducing ambiguity and minimizing regulatory risk.
A further theme running throughout the update is the call for greater sustainability. Dental practices are urged to reduce their reliance on single-use plastics and to adopt materials that can be sterilized, reused, or recycled wherever safe to do so. By embedding environmental considerations into day-to-day waste management, the guidance highlights the profession’s role in supporting broader climate and sustainability goals.
In essence, HTM 07-01 challenges dental teams to balance safety, compliance, and sustainability. By shifting toward a risk-based model, it asks practitioners to apply clinical judgment to waste disposal, while also recognizing the importance of environmental stewardship in modern dentistry.
🔗 Original article: Dentistry.co.uk – Healthcare waste guidance changes: what you need to know