27 October 2023
Overview and latest technologies for green sterilization of hospital waste
Healthcare waste management is a critical challenge for the healthcare industry, as it involves the need to ensure safety and hygiene while minimizing environmental impacts. One of the key aspects of this management is the sterilization of medical waste, a process that requires special attention because of its potential impact on the environment.
With this article, we at Newster will take an overview of the environmental impact in the world of medical waste sterilization and explore some green solutions for hospitals and healthcare facilities.
The need for sterilization of medical waste
Before examining the environmental impact, it is essential to understand why sanitary waste sterilization is necessary.
Medical waste includes needles, syringes, surgical instruments, protective clothing and other materials that can be contaminated with pathogens. Sterilization is a vital process to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, protect medical personnel, patients and the environment from potential hazards.
The impact on the environment of sterilization of medical waste
As mentioned earlier, sanitary waste sterilization is a key process for ensuring public health and safety, but it is crucial to understand its impact on the environment, which can vary greatly depending on the method used. In this context, it is important to highlight how most methods significantly impact the environment at various levels, creating significant challenges in terms of sustainability and resource conservation.
Pollutant emissions
One of the most relevant aspects to consider is the issue of pollutant emissions, with particular reference to the incineration of medical waste. This method involves burning waste at extremely high temperatures, resulting in the emission of harmful substances into the atmosphere. These emissions contribute to air pollution and can also settle on the ground, potentially contaminating surrounding natural resources.
Electricity consumption
Another significant impact of sanitary waste sterilization is the considerable consumption of resources, particularly electricity. The vast majority of the methods used require significant energy input to make the process work effectively. This energy consumption can have a negative impact on the environment, especially if the energy used does not come from renewable or sustainable sources.
Chemical residue management
Another major challenge is related to the management of residues generated by sterilization processes. Some methods, such as chemical sterilization, may result in the production of chemical residues that must be disposed of safely to avoid soil and groundwater pollution. This requires strict disposal procedures and constant monitoring to prevent potential damage to the environment. Research into more environmentally friendly sterilization methods and the promotion of recyclability of sterilized materials can help mitigate this impact.
Water resources
Finally, the significant consumption of water resources associated with certain sterilization methods, particularly steam sterilization, should be mentioned. This approach requires large amounts of water to produce the necessary steam. In regions with scarce water resources, this could be a critical problem because it could compromise the water supply for other essential purposes.
Newster technologies for reducing the environmental impact of sterilization
At Newster, we design green technologies, alternatives to incineration, for the sterilization of solid waste, wastewater, and liquids from healthcare facilities and hospitals.
The main materials of our machines have a high potential for recyclability, this allows us to balance 60% of the impact associated with the production of waste sterilizers.
In addition, we hold the PDT® Green Certificate, which certifies the low environmental impact of our sterilization solutions.
Among all our solutions, we cannot fail to mention our innovative friction-based sanitary solid waste sterilization system.
In fact, our technology uses the heat generated by the shredding action to sterilize solid waste without emitting POPs into the atmosphere. At the end of the process, the treated medical waste is reduced by 25 percent in terms of initial weight, 75 percent in terms of initial volume, and can be disposed of as normal mixed waste.
Contact us now for more information!
Digital Marketing