Veterinary waste

In this section you can access advice on veterinary waste, including the definition of hazardous and non-hazardous waste, duty of care requirements, segregation and classification requirements and record-keeping obligations.

Background

Veterinary waste consists of both hazardous and non-hazardous waste which must be segregated, classified, described, packaged, labelled and disposed of in line with regulatory requirements.

What the BVA has done

We have consulted extensively to produce the BVA Good practice guide to handling veterinary waste in England and Wales, which is supported by the Environment Agency. We have also produced posters for Northern Ireland and Scotland.

The guides aim to assist the veterinary profession in complying with waste regulations in their region. This web advice complements the guides.

What you must do

Register as a hazardous waste producer
Separate, classify and describe the waste you produce
Ensure the waste is packaged and labelled appropriately
Complete consignment notes (hazardous waste streams only) and transfer notes (non-hazardous waste streams only) and keep accurate records
Submit quarterly returns to the Environment Agency if you receive waste from non-domestic producers (ie satelite practices or farms)
Register as a lower tier waste carrier (from December 2013).