Table 1.
Colour coding, container type and collection frequency of waste recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO)
| Waste categories | Colour of container and markings | Type of container | Collection frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infectious waste | Yellow with biohazard symbol (highly infectious waste should be additionally marked HIGHLY INFECTIOUS | Leak-proof strong plastic bag placed in a container (bags for highly infectious waste should be capable of being autoclaved) | When three-quarters filled or at least once a day |
| Sharps waste | Yellow, marked SHARPS with biohazard symbol | Puncture-proof container | When filled to the line or three-quarters filled |
| Pathological waste | Yellow with biohazard symbol | Leak-proof strong plastic bag placed in a container | When three-quarters filled or at least once a day |
| Chemical and pharmaceutical waste | Brown, labelled with appropriate hazard symbol | Plastic bag or rigid container | On demand |
| Radioactive waste | Labelled with radiation symbol | Lead box | On demand |
| General health-care waste | Black | Plastic bag inside a container or container which is disinfected after use | When three-quarters filled or at least once a day |