Dental waste regulations in the UK: what practices need to know
Updated 6 November 2026 · By the Dental Waste Disposal team
Short answer: UK dental practices must follow the waste Duty of Care, segregate waste using the HTM 07-01 colour-coding system, and use a registered carrier for every collection. Hazardous streams such as amalgam (code 18 01 10*) and X-ray fixer and developer need a consignment note for each collection, kept for at least three years in England and Wales. Practices that use amalgam must also have an amalgam separator that retains at least 95 percent of amalgam particles.
The main rules
- Duty of Care under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, which makes the practice responsible for its waste until it is correctly treated
- The Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005 in England and Wales, the Special Waste Regulations in Scotland and the Hazardous Waste Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005
- HTM 07-01 guidance on the safe management of healthcare waste, with equivalent guidance in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
- Mercury regulations requiring amalgam separators and pre-encapsulated amalgam
- COSHH for staff handling mercury and X-ray chemicals
Common dental waste streams
| Waste stream | Container | Hazardous? |
|---|---|---|
| Amalgam, capsules, separator waste, teeth with amalgam | White amalgam container | Yes |
| Part-used anaesthetic cartridges and medicinal sharps | Yellow-lidded sharps container | Yes |
| Sharps with no medicinal contamination | Orange-lidded sharps container | Yes |
| Infectious waste and teeth without amalgam | Orange or yellow bag | Yes |
| Gloves, bibs, masks with no infection risk | Yellow and black tiger bag | No |
| X-ray fixer and developer | Sealed, labelled chemical container | Yes |
| Lead foils from film packets | Separate metal recycling container | No |
Paperwork and record keeping
Non-hazardous waste needs a waste transfer note, kept for at least two years. Hazardous waste needs a consignment note for each collection, kept for at least three years in England and Wales. Check that your carrier is registered with the relevant environment agency and that your notes show the correct waste codes and descriptions.
Digital waste tracking
Mandatory digital waste tracking started in England and Wales in October 2026, with waste receiving sites recording loads first and carriers due to follow in later phases. For now, practices still need their usual transfer and consignment notes.
Related guides
- How much does dental waste disposal cost in the UK? (2026 guide)
- Amalgam waste disposal: a practical guide for UK dental practices
- Dental waste colour coding: which bin does it go in?
- Waste transfer notes and hazardous waste consignment notes for dental practices
- Pre-acceptance waste audits for dental practices: what they are and how often
- Dental sharps safety and disposal: containers, cartridges and needlestick rules
- How to choose a dental waste contractor: questions to ask and contract traps
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