In its best practice in medical waste recycling case study, the Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council (HPRC) highlights the installation of the Sterilwave solution at UMC Utrecht in the Netherlands.
UMC Utrecht, a University Medical Center known for its commitment to sustainable medical waste management and the city’s largest hospital, has acquired the Sterilwave solution. It is recognised as one of the best hospitals in the Netherlands when it comes to recycling and waste management. Made up of three interconnected hospitals, it generates around 2.5 million kilograms of waste per year. Thanks to innovative practices and a sustainable commitment, UMC Utrecht already recycles 40% of this waste.
One of the crucial steps in the hospital waste management is the safe decontamination of this type of waste. To rise up to this complex challenge, UMC Utrecht has taken the initiative to equip itself with an innovative solution: Sterilwave. This solution enables UMC Utrecht to treat all types of waste presenting an infectious risk, for example: plastics, sharps, disposables, PPEs, bandages, tissues etc.
Sterilwave’s treatment process involves the shredding and microwave decontamination of waste in a fully automatic process of 30 minutes. The output waste is compact, inert and dry, without any risks of external contamination. This innovation reduces the incineration and transport of significant volumes of medical waste, helping to protect the environment while ensuring more responsible waste management.
Read the full article: https://www.hprc.org/a-medical-waste-recycling-best-practice-of-the-netherlands/