Waste Sterilization and Destruction

Acceptable medical waste treatment technologies can be divided into two main groups: high temperature and low temperature. Most conventional low temperature technologies provide decontamination (and some provide sterilization). While they do not change the chemical or physical properties of the processed waste, conventional low temperature decontamination technologies are very effective in treating high volume, low-density components of the waste stream because they have low processing costs, low maintenance costs and high throughput potential. Decontamination technologies that further shred or grind the waste render the waste unrecognizable and allow for more complete compacting of the waste prior to disposal. Low temperature decontamination treatment is appropriate for the majority of medical waste, including "red bag" and "sharps" waste.

High temperature technologies change the physical and chemical characteristics of the waste, thereby destroying the waste itself and rendering it noninfectious. Chemotherapy, pathological, and other special wastes require some form of high heat destruction. Traditional high temperature technologies (various forms of incineration) have come with significant environmental consequences, primarily stemming from air emissions. Controlling emissions has raised the acquisition and maintenance costs of incineration based high temperature processes. Pyrolysis offers an alternative allowing complete destruction with a much more favorable emissions profile. Honua's pyrolysis process offers the additional benefit of being able to destroy SPE prions, and other difficult to destroy/handle wastes.

Next Chapter: Pyrolysis vs. Incineration