UN standard containers for clinical waste

Taylor reports that it has become the UK's first waste container manufacturer to be granted certified compliance with the new United Nations standards for the transport of clinical waste.


The company carries certification for both the new UN standards and the European standard BS EN 840, which recently came into force. Taylor is also accredited for ISO 9001.

The company’s new UN Standard clinical waste container – Mediguard – has been adopted by White Rose Environmental, the major clinical waste management company.

The latest section of the UN’s Recommendations for the Transport of Dangerous Goods relates specifically to wheeled waste containers. From 1 January 2002 it will become a statutory requirement for all clinical waste bags and sharps containers that are being transported by road to be carried in an approved container.

The Packaging Industries Research Association (PIRA) has been authorised to conduct the necessary testing procedures to ensure that containers used in the UK meet the UN standard.

Taylor states that its clinical containers passed all the PIRA tests. The PIRA procedures include bottom- and top-lift tests and drop tests with the containers loaded with up to twice their gross mass.

Taylor had also conducted its own tests in anticipation of the imminent UN standard. The company had set up a test house at its new £5 million head office complex to put containers through the tests demanded by the recently introduced European standard.


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