Does a beautician have to be in BDO? A surprising answer
Running a business in the beauty industry involves not only taking care of clients, but also a ton of regulations. One of the most common concerns is BDO for the beauty industry.
Many landlords assume that because they run a small salon and have a contract for waste collection, the subject does not concern them. Unfortunately, this is not the case in most cases. Does the beautician need to be in BDO? The answer is yes, if he performs procedures that violate the continuity of human tissue.
Municipal waste versus medical waste in a beauty salon
The key to understanding the BDO obligation is to distinguish between types of waste.
Municipal waste in the salon If your salon (e.g. a hairdressing or beauty salon performing only „dry” treatments such as manicures without clippers or henna) only generates waste of a nature and composition similar to household waste
(e.g. shampoo packaging, paper towels, hair, ordinary household rubbish)
and is covered by the municipal waste collection system, as a rule does not have to register with BDO as a waste producer. But this is a rare situation in this industry.
Medical waste in a beauty salon - this is where the responsibility begins The problem arises when a salon performs procedures involving a break in the continuity of the skin.
This is when medical waste in a cosmetic salon.
By law, this waste is classified as hazardous (infectious) waste. The moment even one mesotherapy needle, a microdermabrasion blade or a bloody cotton swab appears in your salon, you become a medical waste generator.
What waste does a beauty salon generate and what are the codes for it?
To answer the question, what waste is produced by a beauty salon, we need to categorise them.
BDO beauty salon and waste codes
- Municipal waste (e.g. 20 03 01) - household waste.
- Chemical waste (e.g. 15 01 10*) - packaging for strong preparations,
solvents, paints (this also applies to BDO hairdresser with a large number of paints). - Infectious medical waste (code 18 01 03*) - is a key category. We include here:
- Needles (after permanent make-up, mesotherapy, tattooing),
- Scalpels, clippers (if disposable),
- Gloves, swabs, cotton wools visibly contaminated with blood or other secretions.
If you generate waste with the code 18 01 03*, you have an absolute obligation to register with BDO (under Division XII as a waste generator) and to keep records.
BDO hairdresser, beautician, tattoo parlour - who is affected by the obligation?
Let us summarise how BDO beauty industry looks like in practice:
- Hair salon: Usually not. If it only produces hair and cosmetics packaging
(non-hazardous) is treated as a generator of municipal waste
and does not need to register. - Beauty salon (non-invasive): Just like a hairdresser - if it doesn't break tissue continuity, it probably doesn't need to register.
- Beauty salon (invasive): Permanent make-up, mesotherapy, manicure/pedicure with pincers (risk of cuts), manual cleansing -. registration with the BDO is mandatory due to medical waste.
- Tattoo and piercing salon: The obligation is indisputable. Every procedure generates medical waste
(needles, gloves, ink cups).
If you know, who must register with BDO, you will more easily understand that almost every advanced cosmetic service qualifies a salon for the register.
BDO paperwork for the beauty salon - the devil is not so terrible
Registration alone is not enough. As a generator of medical waste, you must have a contract with a company specialising in its collection, keep records (Waste Transfer Card - KPO) and submit annual reports.
Sound complicated? Need help with the formalities? Trust our comprehensive environmental consultancy. We will help you through the entire process, from registration to record keeping, ensuring your salon is compliant. Find out more about how obtaining registration in the BDO register.
