A key part of running a tattoo parlour is correctly managing your waste. It’s a legislation led and regulation ruled the road, far from the inherent creativity of tattooing a customer but arguably equally as important when it comes to maintaining a productive and legal business.

You’re most definitely the experts when it comes to creating beautiful and intricate designs on the bodies of the public. We like to think of ourselves as the waste experts – not quite as glamorous as the colourful expressive interiors of your parlours, but certainly just as vital in the safe and sanitary servicing of your business and customers.

 

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Here are some tips for good waste handling in your parlour:

 

  • Segregate waste at the point of origin. Put out separate bins for sharps, general waste, contaminated waste recycling or any others around your parlour. Don’t rely on your waste provider to do this for you, or pile it all together and try to sort it out at a later stage before putting it out for collection

 

  • Only fill up your bags 3 quarters full. This helps to avoid tear out and keeps you and your waste collector safe when tying the bags or sealing the bag, especially when it contains hazardous or harmful waste

 

  • Put your waste bags in foot operated bins to avoid touching the bag, every time you dispose of waste

 

  • Have your waste collected on a frequent basis by a licensed waste management contractor, with all the correct paperwork and duty of care details in check

 

  • When handling your waste, always make sure you wear protective clothing on any part of your body that may come into contact with it. This is for your safety and hygiene, as well as any customer you may go on to serve that day

 

  • All of your waste should be bagged in the correctly colour-coded bags, which should also be UN-approved, and comply with BS EN ISO 7765:2004 & BS EN ISO 6383:2004 standards

 

  • Should the exterior of a waste bag develop any damage, or become contaminated it should be immediately double-bagged. This helps to avoid leakage, contaminations and harm to yourself or your customers

 

  • Keep your waste in a rigid sided, fire retardant holder or container – preferably with a foot operated lid, as well as ensuring it is out of the reach of customers where possible

 

  • Waste should then be stored in a labelled, lockable and secure vermin-proof storage space for collection, in a drainable hard standing floor

 

  • Waste bag should be securely sealed and labelled with coded tags at the point of use so that their source can be identified by your waste management company

 

  • You should not decant your waste into other bags, regardless of how full they are. Neither should they be contaminated on the outside or ever re-used

 

  • ‘Sharps’ waste should also be disposed of into containers that meet BS 7320/UN3291, for your safety and the safety of any customer or waste management companies dealing with it

 

  • ‘Sharps’ containers should at no point be placed into a waste bag to be disposed of

 

At Direct365 we’re specialists in tattoo waste collection and only work with fully trained and accredited waste professionals around the country. Whether you have a small body art shop or a thriving city-centre tattoo parlour, our professional body artist waste collection service can help take care of all of your tattoo waste removal needs. Find out more here!

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