Cytotoxic waste management

Expert cytotoxic waste management, including secure containers, collection, and destruction of chemotherapy and cytostatic waste for healthcare facilities.
about

About

Compliant solutions for
disposing of chemotherapy and cytostatic waste

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Cleanaway provides EPA-licensed, fully compliant cytotoxic waste services for healthcare providers across Australia. From chemotherapy units in major hospitals to veterinary oncology clinics, we ensure all cytotoxic materials are safely collected, transported, and destroyed, protecting staff, patients, the public, and the environment.

Cytotoxic drugs, most commonly used in chemotherapy treatment, contain potent substances designed to destroy cancer cells and other foreign bodies. While essential in clinical care, these medicines remain hazardous even after use. Without the right containment and disposal systems in place, cytotoxic drugs and contaminated materials can cause serious harm to people and the environment.

Cytotoxic waste is typically identifiable by purple containers and labelling, in line with national healthcare waste colour codes.

Whether you're managing cytotoxic waste in an oncology ward, cancer centre or laboratory, you can trust Cleanaway to handle this hazardous waste with the highest standards of safety, efficiency and regulatory compliance.

Cytotoxic drugs and contaminated materials

Includes unused, expired, or residual chemotherapy and cytostatic drugs, contaminated PPE, spill cleanup materials, and soiled dressings and tubing from treatments.

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Cytotoxic equipment and laboratory waste

Covers drug administration items like syringes, vials, ampoules, IV bags, and laboratory waste such as culture plates, pipette tips, and contaminated glassware used in cytotoxic research or analysis.

Service

Who we support

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Hospitals and oncology centres

Managing safe collection and disposal of cytotoxic drugs, contaminated materials, and related waste generated during cancer treatment.

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Pharmaceutical and research laboratories

Handling cytotoxic laboratory waste and drug residues from pharmaceutical manufacturing and scientific research.

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Healthcare clinics and day surgery

Supporting outpatient facilities with secure cytotoxic waste services for chemotherapy and other treatments involving cytostatic agents.

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Veterinary clinics and animal research

Managing cytotoxic waste generated in veterinary oncology and research settings, ensuring compliant disposal.

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Process

How we safely manage cytotoxic waste

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Safe handling and segregation
Cytotoxic waste is placed directly into purple-labelled, tamper-proof bin systems supplied by Cleanaway. These are positioned at point-of-care in chemotherapy suites, theatres or labs to minimise handling and contamination.
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Scheduled collection
Trained technicians collect containers according to your facility’s needs. All drivers are certified to handle regulated healthcare waste and wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
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High-temperature incineration
Cytotoxic waste is treated at EPA-licensed facilities via high-temperature incineration, the only approved method for the safe and irreversible destruction of cytotoxic residues.
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Destruction certification and reporting
You receive certified destruction records and consolidated reporting through our waste tracking systems, ensuring you meet auditing and regulatory obligations.
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Details

Specialised containers for cytotoxic waste collection

Cleanaway’s containment solutions offer a revolutionary approach to isolating and securing trace cytotoxic waste in an oncology or laboratory setting.

Our range of specialised cytotoxic waste containers include:

  • Single-use pails for larger volumes of cytotoxic waste
  • Single-use cytotoxic sharps containers for small volumes of cytotoxic waste
  • Reusable Clinismart cytotoxic containers for a more sustainable solution

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Output

What happens to cytotoxic waste

 

Clinismart cytotoxic waste containers are designed to be reusable. They are part of a system that includes a rigorous washing and sanitisation process after each use. This system aims to reduce infection transfer risk and environmental impact compared to disposable containers. Our industry-leading robotic automated washline safely disinfects and sanitises our reusable containers.

The contents of the containers as well as single-use containers are then destroyed using high-temperature incineration – the only legal method for cytotoxic waste destruction in Australia. Temperatures reaching up to 1,200 °C reduce waste to ash, ensuring complete and irreversible breakdown of harmful cytotoxic compounds, with no risk of reuse or diversion.

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Our promise

Why choose Cleanaway

  • A one-stop solution

    We offer an expansive range of services, custom waste solutions and expert support to meet the waste management and resource recovery needs of Australian businesses, councils and industries of any size. 

  • Making a sustainable future possible together

    We’re leading the way in sustainable waste management and resource recovery, helping Australia to transition to a circular economy and investing in lasting solutions for the benefit of all Australians – now and into the future.

  • Health, safety and environmental focus

    We implement rigorous controls to safely collect, treat and dispose of waste, minimising the risk of harm to people and the environment while meeting strict compliance standards.

  • Market-leading infrastructure

    Our EPA-licensed, state-of-the-art facilities enable safe, efficient waste processing and resource recovery at scale.