Abstract
As the costs, both fiscal and political, of clinical waste incineration spiral upwards, alternative technologies for the treatment of the bulk fraction of clinical waste are being evaluated. A process utilizing microwave energy to pasteurize clinical waste has recently been introduced to the UK market. In order to evaluate the process in terms of environmental impact, microbiological efficacy and to determine processing costs, a study using a mobile unit was undertaken at Stirling Royal Infirmary, Stirling, Scotland. The results indicate that the unit has no adverse environmental impacts and is an efficient pasteurizer, reducing total aerobic counts by 2–3 logs and sporeforming organisms on average 2 logs. Processing capacity was lower than expected at 180–200 kg h‐1 and processing costs depended on the percentage utilization ranging from £340 t‐1 at 20% utilization to £145 at 84% utilization.
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