The shredding of hospital and medical waste

Waste produced in hospitals is a type of waste considered special or dangerous, as the material is composed of different elements:  biological and anatomical components, single use items deriving from surgical treatment, material used by healthcare personnel such as shirts, caps and masks, bandages, medicines used by patients, single-use glass and plastic containers used for extracting and storing human elements and slightly radioactive waste.

SatrindTech, with thirty years' experience in proposing applicative solutions for industrial shredding and waste recycling processes can offer various solutions associated with the shredding of hospital waste. One of the most suitable shredders for this purpose is the 15 hp model (available in the F 515, F615, F1015 and F1315 versions). 

Last January, we supplied one of our Italian customers with a system for shredding and separating solid and liquid waste from hospitals and pharmacies (such as rigid and semi-rigid containers, bags containing liquids) or excess production from the cosmetics industry (for which there is a need to avoid the circulation of such products in parallel, uncontrolled markets). 

The solution that the customer accepted was made up of the following elements: 

• a material loading belt for the shredder with a rubber mat equipped with dividers to stop cylindrical items rolling away;
• an F 615/2P model shredder with a set of 30 mm blades with 4 jaws, equipped with additional bulkheads to protect the drive train bearings from any liquid infiltrating from the shredding chamber; 
• a stainless steel Archimedean screw fitted to the base of the shredding chamber underneath;
• a stainless steel collection tank underneath the screw.

Once shredded, the material is fed onto the screw, which separates liquids from solids. The liquid element is discharged into the relevant container, whereas the solid parts are carried by the screw into another vessel. 

As containers containing creamy liquids can also be treated, the screw has a cleaning system which can dilute any creamy contents, assisting with the discharge into the container, avoiding accumulation in the screw, which would otherwise become blocked.

The system can treat 500 kg per hour. The shredded waste in this case is destined for disposal, as it is mostly plastic, however it is 'polluted' by the presence of paper, as the material had labels on it from the start. This video demonstrates the operation.

For more information regarding this solution, or for any other requirements, you cancontact us here.