Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. UK law requires aesthetic and medical businesses to use a licensed waste carrier for all clinical and sharps waste. Sharpsmart is fully licensed and provides all necessary waste transfer and consignment documentation to keep your compliance seamless and audit-ready.

The short answer is no. But why do so many people think it is? It’s to do with the concentration of botulinum toxins, which, once they reach a certain level, are classed as cytotoxic; however, no aesthetic clinic will use a concentration that reaches or exceeds the hazardous threshold which is greater than 3%

So, what is the correct way to dispose of Botox? Botox and contaminated vials, needles, etc., should be disposed of in the yellow-lidded sharps bins for medicinally contaminated sharps waste.

If you need further clarification or information, please see the Environment Agency’s Technical Guidance Document WM3: Guidance on the Classification and Assessment of Waste.

Most med spas and aesthetic clinics generate sharps waste (needles, syringes, micro-needling cartridges), soft clinical waste, and occasionally pharmaceutical waste (expired medications and fillers), as well as cytotoxic waste (botulinum toxin – found in Botox).

Yes. Sharpsmart’s reusable systems are built for clinical performance and visual discretion. Their smooth contours and cabinet-free design will blend naturally into luxury aesthetic clinic interiors – maintaining clinical hygiene without disrupting your brand aesthetic.

Site-level procurement means your individual practice, clinic or location can choose and manage its own waste service. Group-level procurement means the contract is managed centrally, often by a head office, operations team or procurement lead across multiple sites.

The main difference is decision-making. A site-level arrangement can make it easier to act quickly when something needs changing, such as container sizes, collection frequency or service support. A group-level arrangement can help create consistency, improve reporting and give the organisation better visibility across all locations. However, it may also mean local teams need to provide evidence before changes can be approved.

If your site wants to make a change but needs to go through the group, don’t bypass the process. Build a clear, practical case for review. Include what isn’t working, how it affects safety, compliance, storage, staff time or cost, and what change you’re asking for. Useful evidence might include missed collections, overfilled containers, unsuitable container sizes, changes in treatment activity or concerns around documentation.

Framing the request as a service improvement, rather than just a supplier preference, helps the group make an informed decision that works for both the site and the wider organisation.