Guide to tattoo waste disposal: Best practices for tattoo artists

April 15, 2024 - 1 year ago

Disposing of tattoo waste properly is a major challenge for artists and studio owners. Incorrect handling of materials like used needles, contaminated gloves, and excess ink can lead to health risks, legal issues, and environmental harm.

This guide offers straightforward best practices for tattoo waste disposal, helping tattoo professionals maintain a safe, compliant, and environmentally friendly workspace.

Types of Waste Typically Generated in a Tattoo Studio

Tattoo studios generate various types of waste, which can be categorised as follows:

Infectious Waste

• Needles and sharps: Used needles, razor blades, and other tools that pierce the skin are considered biohazardous and must be disposed of in sharps containers.
• Contaminated waste: This includes any waste that comes into contact with bodily fluids or blood, such as gloves, bandages, and used ink caps.

General Waste

• Non-contaminated waste: Items such as paper towels, wipes, and other general waste that haven’t been contaminated with blood or bodily fluids.
• Packaging materials: Plastic wrappers, boxes, and other materials used to package tattoo supplies.

Chemical Waste

• Disinfectants and cleaners: These chemicals must be disposed of according to local regulations for sterilisation and cleaning due to their potential environmental impact.
• Ink waste: Excess tattoo ink and containers with residual ink.

Other Specialised Waste

• Sterilisation waste: Autoclave bags or biological indicators used in the sterilisation process might be considered special waste depending on local regulations.

How to Properly Dispose of Tattoo Waste

Proper management of waste in a tattoo studio involves several critical steps to ensure safety and compliance with health regulations:

Segregation

Your first step is to segregate waste into various categories at the point of generation. Infectious waste, such as used needles, gloves, and anything contaminated with blood or bodily fluids, should be separated from general waste like paper towels and packaging materials.

Sharp items like tattoo needles must be immediately placed in FDA-approved sharps disposal containers that are puncture-resistant, leak-proof, and labelled appropriately.

Handling and Storage

Once the waste is segregated, you should handle it minimally to reduce the risk of exposure or accidents. Containers for infectious waste should be sealed and stored in a designated, secure area within the studio until disposal.

Similarly, chemical wastes, such as used disinfectants and inks, should be stored in containers compatible with their material to prevent leakage and chemical reactions.

Disposal

Infectious and sharp waste should be picked up by a certified medical waste disposal company that can handle and treat it according to regulations.

General waste can be disposed of as regular trash. However, check if certain materials like plastics or cardboard can be recycled. Chemical wastes require specific disposal methods to prevent environmental contamination, often needing specialised waste management services.

Documentation and Compliance

You must keep detailed records of how and when waste is disposed of, including manifests from waste pickup companies for infectious and hazardous wastes. Compliance with local, state, and federal regulations is crucial for safety and to avoid legal issues or fines.

Training and Awareness

Regular training for all studio staff on proper waste management practices is essential. This includes handling different types of waste, emergency procedures, and updates on regulatory changes.

Tattoo waste disposal awareness significantly reduces the risk of accidents and ensures the studio operates safely and responsibly.

Tattoo Waste Disposal Methods

Regular Waste

This includes non-hazardous materials such as paper towels (not used during procedures), broken non-electronic equipment, office waste, and other non-recyclable trash.

Dry Mixed Recycling

Recyclable materials such as plastic bottles, paper, cardboard, glass containers, and metal cans. These are sorted into dry mixed recycling bins and sent to recycling facilities for processing.

Food Waste

Organic waste from food consumed by staff or clients, such as leftovers and biodegradable packaging, is placed in food waste bins and sent to composting facilities.

Glass Recycling

This includes glass items such as empty ink bottles (if cleaned) and glass containers from cleaning supplies, recycled separately to avoid contamination.

Sharps Disposal

Used needles, razors, and scalpel blades must be disposed of in puncture-proof sharps containers handled by certified medical waste disposal services.

Clinical Waste

Includes materials contaminated with blood or bodily fluids, such as used gloves, ink caps, and gauze. This waste is usually incinerated to destroy any pathogens.

Confidential Waste

Consists of sensitive documents like client records and consent forms. This waste is shredded and securely destroyed to comply with data protection laws.

Best Practices for Waste Segregation

Labelling of Different Waste Bins

• Clear labelling: Bins should include text and universal symbols that are easily understandable.
• Colour coding: Use colour-coded bins such as blue for paper, green for glass, red for sharps, and yellow for clinical waste.
• Placement of bins: Position bins where waste is most likely to be generated.
• Informational posters: Display posters near bins to reinforce segregation practices.

Why Is It Important to Dispose of Tattoo Waste Properly?

Proper tattoo waste disposal prevents the spread of infectious diseases, protects against injuries, and reduces environmental contamination. Adhering to safety and environmental regulations helps maintain a responsible and reputable tattoo studio.

Tattoo Waste Regulations & Laws in the UK

In the UK, tattoo waste management is governed by several key laws and regulations to protect health and the environment:

• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations: Requires proper handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous substances.
• Environmental Protection Act 1990: Imposes a duty of care to ensure all waste is handled and disposed of properly to prevent pollution.
• Health and Safety at Work Act 1974: Obligates employers to safeguard employees by managing hazardous waste safely.
• The Environment Act 2021: Introduces new requirements for waste segregation to promote sustainability.

Final Thoughts

Proper tattoo waste disposal is essential for maintaining safety, compliance, and environmental protection. By labelling containers, separating waste correctly, and using professional disposal services, tattoo artists can uphold responsible studio practices and protect both people and the planet.