Medical Waste Treatment Market on the Move-February 2003

Medical Waste Treatment Market on the Move-February 2003

Regarding the current state of medical waste, it is classified into two major categories: infectious and non-infectious waste. Particularly for infectious waste, strict management is required due to its high risk of infection. To manage these wastes, a manifest system is legally required to record and track each process from collection to transportation and final disposal, and this system ensures proper management.

Sterilization technologies such as high-pressure steam sterilization (autoclave) and dry heat sterilization are used to treat medical waste. Various technologies are also being developed, including melting and solidifying waste at high temperatures using a melting and solidification system, carbonization using a batch-type carbonizing furnace, and detoxification using high-temperature plasma with arc plasma technology. These technologies aim to detoxify and reduce the volume of waste, and play a particularly important role in the safe treatment of infectious waste.

In addition to waste volume reduction, efforts are also being made to reuse waste as a resource, such as through solid fuel conversion and material recycling. This is expected to reduce the environmental burden by utilizing waste as an energy resource. At the same time, dioxin regulations are being tightened, and high-temperature treatment technology in particular is a key factor in meeting these regulations.

In terms of market trends, educational programs have been introduced to promote proper disposal of infectious waste, and the disposal of home medical waste has emerged as a new issue, especially with the spread of home medical care. To address these issues, technological innovation and tighter regulations will continue to be required. The medical waste treatment market is expected to develop further as an important field for the realization of a sustainable society.