Hazardous healthcare waste in the Kingdom is governed by the GCC Unified System for Healthcare Waste Management and its implementing regulation, issued by Royal Decree M/53. The system puts clear responsibility on the producing facility, from the department that produced the waste until it is handed to a licensed provider.
Segregation starts in the department
The waste producer is responsible for separating waste where it is produced, in colour-coded plastic bags and containers:
- Yellow: infectious waste, and solid chemical waste in its packaging.
- Red: human tissue and body parts.
The detailed classification guide for segregating hazardous healthcare waste applies.
Packing and labelling
Bags are sealed tightly inside the producing department under its supervisor, and carry labels in permanent, water-resistant ink with the required information and the biohazard symbol.
Temporary storage
Hazardous waste is kept temporarily in a designated collection point inside the facility, for no more than 24 hours.
Transport and treatment
Collection and transport inside the facility are done by trained staff under the healthcare waste officer. Outside the facility, transport and treatment fall under the Waste Management Law, and MWAN licenses treatment facilities and the technologies they use.
Common mistakes
- Mixing general and hazardous waste, which raises the volume and cost of hazardous waste.
- Exceeding the storage limit because of an irregular collection schedule.
- Contracting a transporter without checking its licence.
How we help
We review waste management in your facility from segregation to handover, prepare the procedures and records, and train your team on them.