Appendix F - Amended Solid Waste Management Plan

    •   Waste should be moved around premises in rigid-walled, puncture resistant containers. A
        rigid-walled container is one that has hard, unbending sides and is resistant to splitting,
        breaking and puncturing;
    •   The container must not allow liquids to leak or soak through. A mobile garbage bin is an
        example of a rigid-walled container suitable for the transportation of clinical or related waste.
        The movement of loose waste or waste carried in plastic bags should be avoided or, where
        necessary, limited to short distances, light waste loads and low risk wastes;
    •   Good waste management practice involves minimising exposure to the waste. To facilitate
        this, all movement of wastes throughout the premises should be planned to avoid peak
        activity times, such as visiting hours, meal times and change of shifts;
    •   Clinical or related wastes should not be moved through public areas or general staff
        thoroughfares;
    •   To avoid potential spillage, trolleys and bins should not be overfilled; and
    •   Double-bagging may be used in situations where heavy loads of waste are moved from
        generation areas to bins. Double-bagging means using two bags to contain one waste load.
        It potentially doubles the thickness of the plastic skin and gives added strength. However,
        care must be taken when placing a bag containing waste into an empty bag so that the
        contents are not spilled, or staff do not come in contact with the waste. The risks associated
        with this double handling may reduce the value of double-bagging.

4.1.2 Waste Collection
Medical waste should be collected on an ‘as needed’ basis and will be handled independently of
other solid waste. The off-site transportation of clinical and related waste from its source to the
storage, treatment or collection point is regulated under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 and
Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011.

The Guideline for Clinical and Regulated Waste provides recommendations for the off-site transport
of clinical and regulated waste. These recommendations are as follows:

    •   All waste must be transported in rigid-walled, puncture resistant containers. The container
        used must have a lid that is capable of being secured during transportation. Plastic bags
        alone may not be strong enough to ensure the safe handling and transportation of these
        wastes;
    •   It is important to ensure that any reusable containers are in good condition and are not split,
        cracked or damaged in any way;
    •   It is preferable that any vehicle used for the transportation of clinical or related waste should
        be used solely for that purpose. The transport vehicle should be designed to protect the
        driver, public and environment from contact with the waste during transportation and in the
        event of an accident. The driver area should be separated from the waste transport area to
        minimise risk of exposure;
    •   The vehicle should be easy to load, unload and clean;
    •   The waste transport compartment should be fitted with container restraints or a method of
        securing containers. Restraining containers during transportation will ensure that containers
        do not fall during transporting and create risk of contact when unloading. This will also prevent
        containers from being damaged; and


Client:    Palm Lake Works Pty Ltd
Doc No.: BE150106-RP-SWMP-01
Doc Title: Solid Waste Management Plan                                                        Page 29