Heat is being used to dispose of medical waste at the King Edward VII memorial Hospital in Bermuda. Authorities at the Hospital say that the new macerator has been installed and will get rid of potentially dangerous waste in an environmentally friendly way through sterilization by heat and no hazardous emissions will enter the environment.
Previously, hazardous materials were burnt in a specially crafted incinerator. With the macerator, infectious material such as syringes, needles and disposable surgical equipment will now be heated to 270 degrees thus effectively killing all pathogens and no emissions will be released, the excited team at the hospital said.
“The machine uses steam under pressure to sterilize the waste. It takes about 30 minutes for a 70-pound load of red bag waste to be processed and at the end the processed material is no longer recognizable as medical waste. It is a safe sterile confetti-like substance. The process is odour free and does not release any air emissions,” said Bermuda Hospitals Board Facilities Manager Daniel Moore.
The “red bag” waste is placed in the macerator and through a sterilization process with the end result being fine particles resembling confetti which can then be safely disposed of in the trash.
“Investment in this new technology demonstrates BHB’s commitment to the community and the environment. We are excited to be able to use a system that does not generate emissions and converts hazardous waste to a safe product, in a process that does not jeopardize the safety of our staff. We are also pleased to inform our neighbors that we have moved to this new system,” said BHB’s CEO Venetta Symonds.
