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# Healthcare waste: segregation and colour codes in Colombia

- Safe practice

In Colombia, biological-risk waste goes in red containers and bags; sharps in the sharps container; the rest is separated by type.

Updated Nov 5, 2026

## Key points

- Red: biological or infectious-risk waste (biosanitary, anatomopathological, sharps, animal).
- White: recyclables (plastic, glass, paper, cardboard). Green: recyclable organics. Black: non-recyclables.
- Sharps: single-use, puncture-resistant container; needles uncapped; closed at ¾.
- When in doubt, if the waste touched infectious material or comes from isolation, it is handled as hazardous.
- Follow the institution's PGIRASA: it sets containers, the internal route and schedules.

## What it is

In Colombia, healthcare waste management is regulated by Decree 780 of 2016 (Book 2, Part 8, Title 10), which compiles Decree 351 of 2014, and by the Manual for the integrated management of waste generated in health care and other activities, adopted by Resolution 591 of 2024 of the Ministries of Health and of Environment, which repealed Resolution 1164 of 2002. The rules classify waste as non-hazardous or hazardous; hazardous waste includes biological or infectious-risk waste (biosanitary, anatomopathological, sharps and animal waste), radioactive waste and other hazardous waste such as chemicals. Each institution manages it according to its integrated waste management plan (PGIRASA). Segregation happens at the source, at the moment the waste is produced.

## What it requires

- Containers and bags in the colours the Manual sets, labelled.
- Reusable containers that are rigid, impermeable, easy to wash and lidded; biological-risk ones with a pedal opening.
- Single-use, puncture-resistant sharps containers with a ¾ fill mark.
- Staff trained and given PPE, as the rules require of the generator.
- An integrated waste management plan (PGIRASA) drawn up, implemented and kept up to date.

## Components

- Non-hazardous: recyclable, recyclable organic and non-recyclable.
- Hazardous with biological or infectious risk: biosanitary (gauze, dressings, catheters, gloves with fluids), anatomopathological (tissue, organs, samples), sharps (needles, scalpel blades, ampoules, glass), animal.
- Radioactive.
- Other hazardous: corrosive, reactive, explosive, toxic or flammable, such as some chemicals and medicines.

## How it is applied (and why)

- Segregate waste where and when it is produced — mixing hazardous waste with other waste makes the whole load hazardous.
- Identify the class of the waste before discarding it — each class has its own container and treatment.
- Place gauze, dressings, catheters and gloves with fluids in the red container — they carry biological risk.
- Drop needles and scalpel blades into the sharps container at once, uncapped; the cap and sheath go to non-hazardous — it prevents needlesticks.
- Separate non-hazardous waste: white for recyclables, green for recyclable organics, black for non-recyclables — it allows recycling and cuts costs.
- Close bags and sharps containers at ¾, without staples or tape; the closed sharps container goes into a red bag — it prevents spills and injuries.
- Label the bag with the area, the person responsible and the closing date — it makes the waste traceable.
- Hand over waste along the internal route and schedules of the PGIRASA — so it reaches storage and the authorised waste manager.

## Colour code of the Manual adopted by Resolution 591 of 2024

| Colour | Type of waste | Examples |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Red | Hazardous with biological or infectious risk | Blood-stained gauze and dressings, catheters, tissue, closed sharps container |
| White | Non-hazardous recyclable | Clean plastic, glass, paper and cardboard |
| Green | Non-hazardous recyclable organic | Uncontaminated food scraps, pruning waste |
| Black | Non-hazardous non-recyclable | General waste that cannot be recovered |
| No colour assigned | Radioactive and other hazardous waste (chemicals) | Identified by their label under the environmental and mining rules, and as the PGIRASA directs |

## In nursing practice

- Food leftovers and disposable items from patients in isolation are managed as hazardous waste.
- Bags come pre-printed with the waste symbol and class; biological risk uses the three-crescent symbol.
- Internal transport carts for hazardous waste are not used for non-hazardous waste.
- Text checked on 2026-11-05 on funcionpublica.gov.co (Decree 351 of 2014 and Decree 780 of 2016) and in Resolution 591 of 2024 as published on minsalud.gov.co.

## Common mistakes

- Putting general waste in the red bag or biological waste in the black one.
- Recapping the needle before dropping it in the sharps container.
- Filling the sharps container or the bag above ¾.
- Closing bags with staples or tape.
- Leaving waste unlabelled or off the internal route.

## Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

## What colour is the container for biological-risk waste in Colombia?

Red, under the Manual adopted by Resolution 591 of 2024. It takes biosanitary, anatomopathological, sharps (in a sharps container) and animal waste.

## Which regulation now compiles Decree 351 of 2014 on healthcare waste?

Decree 780 of 2016, the Single Regulatory Decree of the Health Sector, in Book 2, Part 8, Title 10 (articles 2.8.10.1 onwards).

## What happens to the cap of a used needle?

The needle goes into the sharps container uncapped; the cap and sheath go with non-hazardous waste, unless the PGIRASA documents a greater risk.

## How is doubtful waste that touched a patient in isolation classified?

As hazardous waste, even if it looks ordinary; the rules say so for waste whose class is in doubt.

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## Connections

## Related 2

- [Sharps safety and what to do after a needlestick](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/sharps-safety-and-what-to-do-after-a-needlestick/)
- [Standard precautions](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/standard-precautions/)

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Educational content for students; it does not replace your institution's protocols, supervised clinical training or a prescriber's order. Dose-calculation examples use made-up numbers: they are educational, not a clinical order.

Sources: [Decreto 351 de 2014, por el cual se reglamenta la gestión integral de los residuos generados en la atención en salud y otras actividades](https://www.funcionpublica.gov.co/eva/gestornormativo/norma.php?i=56755) (Función Pública, Gestor Normativo, 2014); [Decreto 780 de 2016, Decreto Único Reglamentario del Sector Salud y Protección Social (Libro 2, Parte 8, Título 10)](https://www.funcionpublica.gov.co/eva/gestornormativo/norma.php?i=77813) (Función Pública, Gestor Normativo, 2016); [Resolución 591 de 2024, por la cual se adopta el Manual para la gestión integral de los residuos generados en la atención en salud y otras actividades](https://www.minsalud.gov.co/Normatividad_Nuevo/Resoluci%C3%B3n%20No%20591%20de%202024.pdf) (Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social, Colombia, 2024); [Resolución 591 de 2024 (texto compilado en el normograma de la CRA)](https://normas.cra.gov.co/gestor/docs/resolucion_minsaludps_0591_2024.htm) (Comisión de Regulación de Agua Potable y Saneamiento Básico (CRA), Colombia, 2024).

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License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/nursing/healthcare-waste-segregation-and-colour-codes-in-colombia/