Care Home Waste Compliance Checklist
A free, single-page printable checklist for care home managers to verify compliance with Simpler Recycling and clinical waste obligations before CQC or EA inspections.
Waste Compliance Checklist
16 questions · CQC + EA aligned
Clinical waste contractor EA licence on file?
Separate food waste bin — weekly collection?
Written Waste Management Plan in place?
Duty of care transfer notes held?
HTM 07-01 colour-coding applied to bins?
Clinical waste in secure locked storage?
CQC + Environment Agency aligned
Since 31 March 2026 — care home managers are personally accountable
Care homes must comply with Simpler Recycling and clinical waste regulations simultaneously. CQC and the Environment Agency both inspect — and both can act. A missed bin stream or an unlicensed contractor is a compliance failure. Any NO answer needs fixing immediately.
£—
Maximum fine
Duty of care offence
—
Checklist questions
10 HIGH · 6 MED risk
£—
Full Care Home Audit
Written report, 48 hours
What's Inside the Checklist
Score your results:
0 NOs
You look compliant — document everything.
1–3 NOs
Fix HIGH RISK items this week.
4+ NOs
Book an audit — do not delay.
Why Every Care Home Manager Needs This Checklist
Two regulators. Two inspection frameworks. One facility that must satisfy both.
5 Waste Streams Required
Clinical, food waste, paper/card, dry recyclables, and general waste must all be separately collected and documented. Missing any stream is a compliance gap.
CQC + EA Both Inspect
The Care Quality Commission checks waste management under safe care delivery. The Environment Agency enforces duty of care and Simpler Recycling separately.
Written Proof Is Everything
Transfer notes, contractor licences, staff instructions, and a written Waste Management Plan are all required documents. Verbal arrangements provide zero protection.
Care Homes Are a Higher-Risk Category
Unlike HMOs or commercial premises, care homes generate clinical waste alongside domestic streams. This means two separate regulatory frameworks apply simultaneously — and failure under either can trigger enforcement from two different agencies.
Download the checklist — it's free
Single-page A4 PDF. Print it, walk your facility, and know exactly where you stand before a CQC or EA inspector arrives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Need a Full Written Compliance Report?
Show the CQC or Environment Agency a professional audit — not just a self-completed checklist.