What is routine waste in a care home?

Routine waste in a care home typically includes:

1. Food Waste: Leftover food from meals and snacks, including perishable items like fruits, vegetables, meat, and dairy products.

2. Packaging Waste: Cardboard boxes, plastic containers, and other packaging materials used for food, medical supplies, and general household items.

3. Paper Waste: Documents, notes, administrative forms, and other paper products generated in the care home's daily operations.

4. Disposable Medical Waste: Items that come in contact with bodily fluids or infectious substances, such as disposable gloves, bandages, syringes, and medical equipment.

5. Hygiene Products: Used tissues, sanitary napkins, diapers, and other personal hygiene items.

6. Cleaning Waste: Disposable cleaning cloths, wipes, and cleaning solution containers.

7. Garden Waste: Prunings from plants, grass clippings, and other waste from gardening activities around the care home.

8. Administrative Waste: Envelopes, memos, outdated brochures, and other office-related waste.

9. Pharmaceutical Waste: Expired or unused medications, as well as sharps and containers for controlled substances.

10. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Waste: Disposable masks, gloves, and gowns used by staff and visitors.

It's important for care homes to have effective waste management systems to ensure proper segregation, collection, storage, and disposal of these routine wastes, in accordance with relevant local regulations and infection control guidelines, to maintain a clean and hygienic environment for residents and staff.