Disposal of surface disinfectants

Principles of waste disposal

Important goals of a modern handling of waste are, among others, the protection of the environment and the climate, as well as human health. Furthermore, a sustainable handling of the given resources in the sense of a well functioning recycling economy is pursued. In order to achieve these goals, there are various procedures for dealing with waste, which are hierarchically structured:

1. avoidance
2. preparation for reuse
3. recycling
4. other utilisation
5. disposal

Avoidance, reuse, and recycling are thus the processes with the greatest potential for reduction of climate-relevant emissions [1]. Waste is avoided by disinfection that is appropriate to the indication and carried out correctly [2]. Avoidable waste results from improper or inappropriate performance of disinfections.

Disposal of disinfectants

Nevertheless, disinfection as intended also leads to unavoidable waste that must be disposed. For the disposal of the disinfectant itself, it must be considered whether it is a diluted working solution, concentrate, or ready-to-use product. In addition, appropriate containers, dispensers, and packaging must be taken into account.

Diluted use-solutions

Use-solutions are prepared on site by the user by mixing water with a disinfectant concentrate or granulate. Use-solutions of BODE/HARTMANN surface and instrument disinfectants that have been prepared and used as intended can be disposed via the municipal wastewater system. If there are exceptions for certain concentrations of use-solutions, additional information can be found in the safety data sheet under section 16: "Safety instructions for working solutions". However, this is not the rule. If your facility supplies an outstanding proportion of wastewater compared to the rest of the catchment area of the wastewater treatment plant, the requirements for indirect discharges (discharge into the municipal wastewater treatment plant) must be coordinated with the responsible supervisory authority in the respective municipality.

Concentrates & ready-to-use products

Concentrates or ready-to-use products include all liquid and solid (e.g. granules) surface, skin, hand and instrument disinfectants from BODE/HARTMANN. Concentrates and ready-to-use products must be disposed of in compliance with official regulations. They must not be disposed of in household waste or in the sewage system via wastewater, but must be sent for special disposal. For this purpose, the waste code number must be determined by you, if possible, in consultation with the waste management company and the waste authority, and the disposal must be carried out accordingly. The corresponding information is given in the safety data sheet of the respective product.

Wipes

Disinfectants can be also applied as ready-to-use wipes. After use, wipes which are soaked with disinfectants or cleaning agents by BODE/HARTMANN, can be disposed as domestic waste, in accordance with regulations by the municipal authorities. The same is true for all BODE/HARTMANN products with the suffix „Tissues“. However, wipes and tissues must not be disposed in the toilet to avoid negative consequences to the sewage system and the environment.

Empty containers, dispensers, and outer packaging

Empty containers, dispensers as well as outer packaging of disinfection and cleaning products by BODE/HARTMANN are licenced with the dual system and can be disposed as recycling waste if ‚emptied completely‘. Containers are considered as such if they are exhausted according to their purpose. They have to be non-dripping and non-trickling. However, ‚emptied completely‘ does not mean cleaned. A maximum residual content of 1% may remain. Emptied containers must be collected separately and introduced to recycling.

Sources:

1. Communication from the European Commission. The role of waste-to-energy in the circular economy
   https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX%3A52017DC0034
   (abgerufen am 14.04.2023)
2. VAH. So entsorgen Sie richtig: Entsorgungshinweise für Desinfektionsmittel.
   https://vah-online.de/files/download/2023_Entsorgung_Desinfektionsmittel_VAH_Nachhaltigkeit_AG%20Angewandte%20Desinfektion.pdf
   (abgerufen am 14.04.2023)