What happens to used colostomy pouches outside the acute setting

This article looks at the disposal of used colostomy pouches once a patient is discharged from the acute setting. An overview of the guidance given by stoma care nurses to colostomy patients prior to discharge is given as part of a combined study by a patient association. There are approximately 100,000 ostomates in the UK, although the exact number is not known (McCahon, 1999). Approximately 50% of these are colostomates. There appears to be very little literature on disposability of used stoma pouches or advice given to the ostomate with a newly formed colostomy.