North Carolina Approves Sanitec Microwave Medical Waste Treatment as First Environmentally Friendly Alternative to Pathology Incineration.
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources approved Sanitec Industries' patented zero-emission Microwave Healthcare Waste Disinfection System for processing pathological waste. Sanitec is now the only other legal alternative to the incineration of pathology waste in North Carolina. Sanitec is prepared to immediately play a leading role in reducing the environmental and social costs of medical waste while offering both large and small healthcare providers a cost effective and ecological alternative to incineration.
Raleigh, NC (PRWEB) December 12, 2006
Raleigh, NC PRWeb) December 12, 2006 -- North Carolina is a national leader in medical research and health services, yet it is among a dwindling number of states that still permit incineration of medical waste, a significant cause of air pollutants including dioxin and mercury. In fact, North Carolina state law has required the incineration of pathology waste. Until now, that is.
On December 1, the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources approved Sanitec Industries' patented zero-emission Microwave Healthcare Waste Disinfection System™ for processing pathological waste.
"This is an important day for North Carolinians and their healthcare providers who have for years sought alternatives to medical waste incineration," said Sanitec Industries president, Jim Harkess. "As the only legal alternative to the incineration of pathology waste, we are honored to begin playing a leading role in reducing the environmental and social costs of medical waste while offering both large and small healthcare providers a cost effective and ecological alternative to incineration.
Though waste is an inevitable byproduct of providing medical services, North Carolina's approval of Sanitec's Microwave Disinfection System means that incineration has been relegated to an unattractive option. Sanitec currently serves hundreds of clients in North Carolina including the entire Novant Health system.
Unlike incineration and autoclaves, which merely transform biohazard material into other dangerous waste products including dioxin, Sanitec systems are self-contained disposal units that eliminate bacterial and viral pathogens. In addition to being certified zero emission, Sanitec's system significantly reduces the environmental impact of healthcare waste by reducing the volume of the landfill-bound material by up to 80 percent, which, according to Harkess "means far fewer diesel burning bio-waste laden tractor trailers on our roads and lower disposal costs for healthcare providers."
Sanitec is now approved for treatment of all non-radiological and non-fetal healthcare waste in North Carolina and certified for disposal in any municipal landfill without any further permitting. Earlier this year the EPA and North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Protection endorsed Sanitec for the treatment of bird carcasses in the event of an Avian Flu outbreak at a poultry plant.
The Sanitec system works by first shredding untreated waste and adds high-pressure high temperature steam. The shredded material then moves through an auger where six industrial microwaves cook the material from the inside out. The process is certified emission free and the end product is reduced in volume by 80 percent, dramatically reducing the burden on landfills.
There are currently more than fifteen medical waste incinerators remaining in North Carolina.
About Sanitec Industries, Inc.
Sanitec Industries, Inc. is the global patent holder for the Sanitec® Microwave Healthcare Waste Disinfection System™. Healthcare facilities nationwide, ranging from large hospital systems to single practitioner doctors' offices, utilize Sanitec systems to transform dangerous healthcare waste into low-volume, unrecognizable non-infectious material that requires no further treatment and can be safely disposed of in municipal landfills. Sanitec™ units are fully automated, self-contained and are approved for use in all 50 states and DC. Worldwide, Sanitec systems have treated over 500 million pounds of infectious waste.
CONTACT: For information, interviews or graphics contact Adam Dubitsky at 202-247-0130 or
Adubitsky "at" sanitecind. com. For a detailed description of the Sanitec® Microwave Healthcare Waste Disinfection System™, please visit www. sanitecindustries. com.
EDITORS: Graphics and Web-quality computer animation of system available at www. sanitecindustries. com.
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